Common European Reference Tools for guidance

1. Joint Actions European Forum conference Vienna 28-30 August 2005 Common European Reference Tools for guidance Jennifer Wannan jwa@cedefop.eu.int

2. Political Context Lisbon 2010 Goals: Competitiveness, Social Inclusion, Knowledge-based Economy and Society: • Economic Policy • Employment Policy • Social Inclusion Policy • Education and Training Policy

3. Education & Training 2010 – 3 Strands 1) OBJECTIVES:Quality, Access, Openness 2) LIFELONG LEARNING: Partnership, Learning Culture, Excellence, Insight to Demand for Learning, Access, Resourcing 3) VET: Transparency, Quality, Credit Transfer, Sectoral Qualifications, Non-Formal Learning, Lifelong Guidance, Trainers, European Mobility Lifelong guidance relevant for all 3 strands

4. E & T Process/Methods Education & Training = National Competence Open Method of Co-ordination: Stakeholder/ Technical Groups Exchange of Policies & Practices Peer Reviews, Study Visits Agreeing European Benchmarks & Indicators Political Mandates: Council Resolutions & Conclusions LLG Expert Group technical support to all strands

5. E & T 2010 - OUTPUTS ESTABLISH COMMON EUROPEAN INSTRUMENTS, REFERENCES & PRINCIPLES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL POLICY DEVPT FOR LIFELONG LEARNING(March 04 Joint Report COM/Council to European Council) USE COMMON TOOLS TO SUPPORT REFORM & DEVELOPMENT OF VET SYSTEMS/PRACTICES & RAISE STAKEHOLDERS ’ AWARENESS AT NATIONAL, REGIONAL & LOCAL LEVELS TO ENHANCE VISIBILITY AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING(December 2004 Maastricht Communique)

6. Resolution Priorities & Actions • Broadening access across lifespan; • Developing skills to manage learning & career; • Improving quality assurance; • Strengthening structures for policy & systems development. Key action = examining national guidance provision in light of results of guidance policy reviews

7. Common Tools LLG Expert Group developed 3 main systems level tools : • Aims & principles of LLG; • Draft reference points for LLG quality assurance systems; • Key features of LLG systems.

8. Purpose of tools Help to review and improve policies, systems, practice  support follow-up of Resolution Each tool = checklist to help MSs identify existing strengths & remaining challenges facing their guidance services in developing lifelong guidance provision. Also areas for co-operation at EU level.

9. Use of tools Voluntary basis to help MSs modernise guidance policies & systems; Self-assessment & development of guidance provision Support for comparative analysis & peer learning

10. Status of tools Meta-level tools, need to be contextualised, tested & refined to be applied at national, regional, local level. Seeking suggestions on improvement of tools & ideas for other common European tools for guidance.

11. Testing of tools by EGF Testing of tool/s by EGF partner countries: • Strengthen European dimension of EGF; • Deepen co-operation on key aspects of LLG, support modernisation in MSs; • Provide comparative analysis which could feed into Finnish Presidency conference or COM cluster on guidance; • Result in suggestions to improve tools and/or suggestions for further tools.

12. Aims & principles Conditions of service citizens should be able to expect (charter) Definition of LL guidance (from Resolution) Aims -benefits to citizens,ed. & training institutions, firms, policymakers, economies, societies Principles of provision -centrality of user, empowerment of citizens, broadening access, assuring quality

13. Draft Reference Points for Quality Assurance Citizen & user involvement Practitioner competence Service improvement Coherence across sectors Independent provision

14. Key systems features Citizen centred features Policy development Systems co-ordination Targeting within universal provision Review features International features

15. Cedefop Resources to support work of EGF LLG web- site: http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv/Projects_Networks/Guidance/ LLG virtual community discussion forum: http://communities.trainingvillage.gr/lifelong_guidance