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Framework for design and mapping existing career guidance services

 

The design of this framework on ICT and LMI takes account of the results of the Cedefop study on “LMI in lifelong guidance” and the ELGPN data collection for the 5th European conference on lifelong guidance policies held in Rome in October 2014. It builds upon, rather than duplicates, the existing knowledge base. The structure provides a relevant knowledge base for guidance and counselling practitioners, as well as for managers of careers services, concerning the current practices and methodologies in ICT and LMI usage in career guidance and counselling.

The framework recognises that countries organise their guidance services in different ways. For example, a segmented sector approach versus an all-age services approach. The purpose of this tool is to avoid fragmentation, and to maintain and strengthen the political momentum of lifelong guidance policy development at national level.  The framework can be used by stakeholders who are interested in benchmarking, reviewing and improving existing policies and practices in ICT and LMI usage. Users can define targets for further development, and learn how to enhance the synergies among different guidance actors and stakeholders at national, regional, and local levels. The tool also helps to reposition guidance services and integrate the effective use of ICT and LMSI in guidance within national e-Governance strategies and mainstream e-Services.

Users can select one or more themes, and proceed to examine how their existing practice compares with elements of good policies identified in recent international reviews. The themes may also be used in national reviews, or as reference points within bilateral cross-border bench-learning activities or wider peer learning projects or comparative studies around this topic. 

Proposal of a framework for design and mapping of existing career guidance services

Themes for the inventory

Definition

                                                  

Overview of the ICT and LMI usage

A brief description of the practice

Why it was developed?

What are the main objectives of the practice? What policy issues the practice wants to address?

1. Career Management Skills

2. Access to Lifelong Guidance Services

3. Assuring the Quality of Lifelong Guidance Provision

4. Assessing the Effectiveness of Lifelong Guidance Provision

5. Strategic Leadership: Co-operation and Co-ordination

6. Improving Careers Information

7. The Training and Qualifications of Practitioners

8. Funding Lifelong Guidance Services

9. Information and Communications Technology in Lifelong Guidance

Policy/Strategy focus

What is the main focus of the use of ICT in national lifelong guidance strategies?

    1. Gathering and publishing information
    2. Developing the use of ICT
    3. Maximising the use of ICT
    4. Systematising the use of ICT

 

What is the connection of the service in national e-Governance strategies and other e-Services for citizens?

Interface/relationship with existing career services

Description of how the practices fit into the national guidance system structures and strategies

Connectedness to career education programmes

Connectedness to PES services

Connectedness youth services

Function of the ICT

Delivery of career information and LMI

Delivery of career resources

Delivery of distance services

Placement

Promotion of accountability of career services

Integration of the services, e.g. creation of consistent structure for online and face-to-face services

Rationale for the use of ICT

What has been the main driving force in developing this practice?

  1. Saving costs
  2. Promoting efficiency
  3. Promoting effectiveness
  4. Widening access

Target audience

Who are the end users and how are the needs and demands of the various user groups identified?

  1. School pupils
  2. VET students
  3. Higher Education students
  4. Adult learners
  5. Employed adults
  6. Unemployed adults
  7. Older adults
  8. Young people at risk
  9. Disadvantaged groups
  10. Immigrants
  11. Employers

Role of practitioner

Does the practitioner point to ICT resources or use them in practice?

Access

How is access guaranteed for different client groups?

What languages available?

How is access guaranteed for disadvantaged groups?

What skills are required for access?

Key features of ICT

 

Core online activities available

The usage of social media in career guidance and counselling

Chat services and real-time distance counselling

Supporting the development and usage of e-portfolios

Making use of diversified media in career development activities

 

User profiling

ICT in outreach strategies (tracking, engaging users, engaging employers)

Key features of LMI

    

 

Analysing and using publicly available LMI databases (including EU sources)

Generating usable LMI for practitioners and for users

Developing and using creative LMI

Organising and using informal LMI

Gathering and using local LMI (mainly on demand side)

Customisation of LMI through the user’s adaptation according to their needs

Support for practitioners

    

What support is available for practitioners in helping clients to use the service?

What support is available for practitioners to integrate the services in their work with clients?

What tools are available to support continuous professional development of the practitioners?

What tools are available to support mutual learning among practitioners?

Potential links with administrative actions and client registries?

Support for citizens

    

Potential links with a consistent online process in e-Services?

Are there any tools available for users to conduct self-assessment to evaluate their readiness for different service delivery modes?

Are there any tools available for users to match the level of services in accordance to their readiness for career-decision making or online career literacy?

Funding

What is the extent and nature of government funding to support these developments?

  1. Project based
  2. Sectoral programmes
  3. Co-funding by different sectors
  4. State co-ordinated funding

 

From which sources and for what purposes (distinguishing system development, system maintenance, and service delivery)?

Difficulties or Barriers

    

What difficulties or barriers to success have been experienced in the implementation of this practice or program, if any?

  1. Inadequate access to ICT
  2. Inadequate access to information
  3. Inadequate skills and competences
  4. Inadequate integration of services

Monitoring/evaluation

 

How is the quality assurance and consistent development of the practice or programme designed?

Appropriateness of the content?

Validity of the content (face validity, content validity)?

Transparency of the content?

Usability of the content?

Key results or outcomes

What have been the main achievements or outcomes of this practice or programme to date?

Potential increased efficiency in the service provision?

Any evidence on the social return of investment in career services?

Other relevant information

Other information which would help a reader to understand the practice better

Key contact details

 

Name and title of contact person(s) for more information with email details,

URL, publication reference or other information source for this practice or programme.

 

 

 

 

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