Developing quality assurance and evidencebased research in guidance introduction for discussions

1
Developing quality assurance and evidence-based
research in guidance introduction for
discussions

• Raimo Vuorinen, Ph.D. Coordinator of the
  ELGPNFinnish Institute for Educational Research,
  
• University of Jyväskylä, FinlandPeer Learning
  Event on Quality in career guidance and
  counselling
• Towards European frameworks for the training
  and competence of career guidance practitioners
• Cedefop, 14. October 2008

2
Recent activities in evidence-based practise and
policy development

• OECD/EU studies
• Cedefop studies and PLAs
• National initiatives within EU
• National initiatives overseas e.g. Canada,
  Australia and NZ
• This is a topic of common concern

3
Cedefop 2008

• Evidence-based guidance policy development is
  being reinforced, However
• Partnerships are tentative
• Governments have tight budgets for guidance
• Professionalisation of career practitioners is in
  early stage
• Quality assurance of career services is
  attracting increasing attention, However
• National feedback mechanisms in early stages
• Most of the feedback mechanisms administrative or
  practitioner centered
• QA mechanisms are developed for specific sectors

4
QA and evidence-based practise and policy
development in the ELGPN Work Programme

• Thematic Acitivity 2009-2010 Evidence-based
  practise and policy development
• This Thematic Action addresses the
  recommendations of the Council Resolutions on
  Lifelong Guidance (2004, 2008)
• It builds on
• The previous Cedefop studies of indicators and
  benchmarks in career guidance at European level
  and of quality-assurance systems for guidance,
• The Cedefop peer learning activity in the fields
  of QA systems and indicators held in 2004/05
• The EU common reference points for such systems
• The recommendations based on these studies
  produced by the European Commissions Lifelong
  Guidance Expert Group
• The existing national initiatives on
  quality-assurance systems, as well as on
  evidence-based practice and policy development in
  ELGPN member countries.

5
QA and evidence-based practise and policy
development in the ELGPN Work Programme

• A long-term objective is to further elaborate the
  meta-criteria for quality assurance included in
  the EU common reference tools on lifelong
  guidance.
• The aim is to develop a proposal for a common
  framework for quality assurance from a lifelong
  guidance perspective.
• The activity aims to identify the existing
  evidence of guidance outcomes as a part of the
  quality discussion.
• Another goal is to establish a link between
  indicators for lifelong guidance provision and
  the EU indicators on education and training
  systems.
• Participating countries BG, DE, DK, EE, EL, FI,
  HU, LV, PT, UK

6
QA and evidence-based practise and policy
development in the ELGPN Work Programme,
further steps

• Defining the nature of lifelong guidance
  services, using existing frameworks for this.
• Defining the contexts in which quality was
  examined and the perceptions of different
  stakeholders on quality issues.
• Mapping the existing and current research and
  initiatives in ELGPN member countries related to
  this topic.
• The goal is to update the existing knowledge base
  since the Cedefop studies and peer learning
  events conducted in 2004/05.
• The focus on indicators will be on three main
  areas the economic, social and learning outcomes
  of guidance. Based on the findings and best
  practice in the member countries, recommendations
  will be made for further steps to develop a
  quality-assurance framework for lifelong
  guidance.
• This work package will be conducted in
  co-operation with Cedefop and ETF as well as with
  parallel EU and international research initiatives

7
Reflections of the discussions on 13.10.2008

• Training of guidance practitioners /counsellors
  as a quality indicator as such?
• Competences of guidance practitioners/counsellors
  in implementing quality services?
• Role of guidance practitioners/counsellors in
  documenting the services?
• Role of guidance practitioners/counsellors in
  obtaining information from users in the
  development of the quality of guidance provision?

8
Suggested themes for discussions during this PLA

• role that well-educated/trained guidance
  practitioners play in quality assurance?
• how the evidence-base can be expanded?
• what types and levels of training are most
  effective in training specific types of staff for
  specific jobs?
• whether we need lots of people with training at
  master's level, or a mix of those with high
  qualifications and those who can deliver less
  specialised services which OECD suggest is what
  is needed by most people?

9
How the evidence-base can be expanded?

10
What would you like to take home with you?