The Lifelong Guidance Handbook

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland has published a Lifelong Guidance Handbook. This practical and user-friendly publication is designed for all professionals working in the field of lifelong guidance.

The Handbook addresses the key aspects of lifelong guidance in Finland, including the strategy for lifelong guidance, guidance skills, criteria for good guidance, career planning skills and knowledge-based management of lifelong guidance. It provides clear guidelines and recommendations based on the results of recent national studies and experiments. The handbook can be used in diverse ways in different situations, such as supporting guidance work, training, independent learning material, developing guidance work and supporting decision-making.

The Lifelong Guidance Handbook aims to enhance and support lifelong guidance services at the national level. It seeks to improve the quality of services, standardize practices, and develop the competencies of professionals. By doing so, it promotes equality, accessibility, and the consistent implementation of high-quality guidance across Finland and why not across the world.

The handbook is based on the Sustainable Growth Programme funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, and its continuous learning package. The Handbook is also part of lifelong guidance strategy work in Finland, which overall is conducted in good co-operation between relevant ministries and agencies.

The Handbook is openly available in Finnish, Swedish, and English on the Ministry’s official website. 

What does the handbook contain?

• Lifelong guidance
• Strategy for Lifelong Guidance
• Guidance competency
• Criteria for good guidance
• Career management skills
• Evidence-based management of lifelong guidance

Who is the handbook for?

• Decision-makers and those working in administration
• Information, counselling and guidance service managers
• Service supervisors
• Guidance professionals
• Guidance researchers and developers
• Those interested in guidance

Where can you use the handbook?

• To support your guidance work
• To support training
• As a tool in guidance work
• As independent learning material
• To support decision-making