Career Development Support System in Armenia: Achievements and Challenges

NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SYSTEM IN ARMENIA

Never before in history has career guidance been so important. In face of labour markets disrupted by changing work organisation, digitalisation, the greening of economies and the COVID-19 pandemic, career-related decision-making has become more challenging for both young people and adults. In this context, ETF initiated in 2021 reviewing the state of the national career development support system in Armenia. During the review process desk research and individual consultation interviews were conducted, national consultation meeting was organized that involved all relevant stakeholders to clarify open questions from desk research. The meeting gave an opportunity to listen to different points of views from Ministries of education, labour and youth, social partner representatives, youth organizations, practitioners, employer organizations, sector representatives, donors and researchers that gave a ground for the review. In the review the existing capacities and development potentials of career development support system was presented, as well as country priorities for further system development and future planning were defined.

Overview of review findings

Career Development Support System reforms in Armenia were undertaken in 2012, when “The development concept of professional orientation system in the RA” and its implementation plan was approved by the Government of the RA. The system is defined by the concept which includes general education, vocational and higher educational institutions and social support institutions, especially Unified Social Services and Childcare and Child Protection Institutions. The MoLSA and MoESCS are actively involved in the process of establishing and developing the system.

The main player supporting the implementation in the state system is the CGCD Centre, which operates in the system of the MoLSA. The main goals and objectives of the CGCD Centre are to provide career guidance models and career guidance methodologies, practitioner training, and supervision of trained specialists. Within the framework of its statutory functions, based on the identified problems and successful examples, the CGCD Centre makes suggestions regarding the forms and methods to improve career guidance, career development support policy and strategy in the RA.

Only 21.4% of Armenian schools currently provide career education in grades 8 to 11. It is carried out within the framework of the career guidance clubs in accordance with the prescribed curriculum. Students at all 96 VET institutions in the country have access to career guidance and career education services. University students should apply to their university career centres (these have different names in different universities) to receive career guidance services. People not in formal education, NEETs, adults and people who are not competitive in the labour market can receive career guidance services in the regional centres of the Unified Social Service (USS), which operate in the capital city and in all regions of the country (49 centres). Following the reorganisation of the regional State Employment Centres, a new career guidance model should be developed.

However, the career development support system in Armenia is lacking qualification system for career guidance practitioners. There is no standard for the qualification, formal skills and knowledge assessment of career guidance practitioners in Armenia. There is neither a qualification recognition nor a certification system.

Based on the distribution of functions, funding is carried out accordingly. In particular, the funds allocated to the MoLSA are intended for the development of training modules and methodologies for the continuous training of practitioners, and the funds allocated to the MoESCS are for paying the wages for career guidance staff positions. Also, funds have also been allocated to increasing the awareness and involvement of young people in the career guidance services through non-formal training courses.

Access to remotely provided and digital services in Armenia is still limited. In this regard, there are a lot of initiatives to be realized.

The introduction of a life-long Career Development Support in Armenia continues to be a priority for the Government of Armenia and is guaranteed by the Government’s 2021-2026 programme. But still there are many issues that hinder the consolidation of the system. A lot of initiatives are to be realized, achievements should be continuous, challenges to be accepted and overall, career guidance services should be accessible for everyone regardless of age, social and working status.

Three priority areas that were singled out as a result of review findings are:

• Integration of career guidance services into the USS system
• Professionalization of Career Guidance practitioners (development of qualification system)
• Access to quality information for all groups of users

The review reports marks the starting point of future cooperation on system development and enhancement.