Vocational career guidance and counselling in a European dimension

Leonardo da Vinci - Mobility

Short-term Leonardo da Vinci program for Greek experts in the field of education.
(5th - 18th July 2007 in Berlin)

Vocational Career Guidance and Counselling in a European dimension

Short-term Leonardo da Vinci program for Greek experts in the field of education

The exchange project “Vocational Career Guidance and Counselling in a European dimension” was a

two-week educational visit to GEB Institute in Berlin, Germany. It was promoted by the IEK of Trikala. Also the IEK of Karditsa took part in it and acted as sending organization as well.

GEB contributed to the implementation of the project by arranging visits to various organizations and institutes which offer career guidance and counselling. Some of them are the Vocational Information Centre, the Employment Office, the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Education and Research , the Offices of the EU Commission for Education, the Offices of UNESCO and various Vocational schools and institutes.

Also, it held seminars and presentations made by local policy makers, people involved in guidance programs, guidance counsellors and practitioners, heads of institutions and providers of Vocational Training. Furthermore, the program offered a cultural and social learning about the general German history and culture, and, in specific, about the city in Berlin. During the exchange period, GEB acted as a tutor providing a structured program and other support necessary. Finally, it issued a certificate of attendance. Those involved in this project, which took place during the second and third weeks of July 2007, were tutors, supervisors and administration staff of IEK of Trikala and of IEK of Karditsa.

Improving personal skills

The prime objective of the project was the acquisition of knowledge and experience in the field of career guidance and counselling at a European level aiming at fostering innovation and improving the quality of training offered. The project was expected to widen and improve the participants’ professional skills and give European dimensions to these skills. In particular, participants were able to study the German VET guidance and counselling system highlighting the pedagogy, ethics and profession of guidance, exploring methods and tools for working with job seekers, VET students and the unemployed, as well as discussing the initiatives of career development in the educational sector and the labour market.

Quite apart from that, they became familiar with guidance policy priorities in Germany and how they relate to the International guidance agenda as well as the education of German counsellors, their competencies and tasks. Most important, though, is that the participants discussed the strategic and practical development of lifelong guidance systems and the way in which guidance services act as an instrument for helping people enter the labor market.

It is obvious that participants acquired specific competencies, skills and complementary knowledge

which will help them understand the importance of lifelong guidance as it helps to build confidence, empower individuals and makes them aware of new career possibilities and promotes the balance between life and work. Also, they realized that guidance promotes employability and adaptability by assisting people to make career decisions both on entering the labour market and on moving within it. Moreover, by sharing views and experiences, they will have the chance to compare the guidance system in Greece with that of Germany, not to mention that they will exchange good practices, qualitative approaches, acknowledged methods and tools which will enhance the participants will to provide guidance. What is more, they understood the value of lifelong learning since the improvement of skills facilitates the consummation of the individual coupled with the fact that they will develop personal qualities such as confidence, critical thinking, reliability, responsibility, adaptability and initiative. Additionally, they improved their linguistic skills and they will know about a new way of living and thinking while gaining exposure to a multi-cultural environment.

Professionalisation, innovation and quality

All in all, this LDV mobility exchange project generated professionalisation resulting in promoting innovation and quality in VET. It gave a different perspective by shedding light on the key role of guidance and it  facilitated objectivity and the transfer of knowledge, to say nothing of the fact that it encouraged the upskilling of the participants and provide them with opportunities to successfully develop their full intellectual, vocational and personal potential and their understanding of what it means to be European.

It is envisaged that the participants returned to Greece with renewed confidence and motivation to achieve. On the whole, the unavoidable cross-cultural nature of the project was hoped to give birth to innovation, professional development inside and outside the country and cooperation between countries.