RATIONALE
A very impressive National Careers System Strategy (NCSS) has been developed by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), New Zealand, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the careers system. Economic and structural changes arising from COVID-19 provided the impetus for the refresh. The review allowed for alignment with government priorities ... Read More
30
Sep2024
A well known axiom of good policy development is first consult with the target group for whom the policy is being developed to get an idea of their contexts, existing experiences, behaviour, motivations, life values, perceptions, and advice. Transitions from Secondary School is an excellent research report of the New Zealand ... Read More
September 30, 2024John McCarthy
02
Sep2024
This is a welcome initiative involving UNICEF for the first time in an international research study (in cooperation with ETF) of young people’s career learning needs, the means to address these, their educational and occupational aspirations, key factors in their choices, and their current sources of career learning support. Nine ... Read More
September 2, 2024John McCarthy
12
Sep2023
INNOVATION: CAREER EXPLORATION THROUGH THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM
FOR STUDENTS AGED 15-16 YEARS
The Department of Education in Ireland has a unique one-year school programme that bridges the gap between junior and senior cycle education, known as the Transition Year Programme (TYP). It represents a radical systems experiment whereby one whole year in the middle ... Read More
September 12, 2023John McCarthy
20
Jul2023
JOINT STATEMENT OF IAG (2023)
This welcome statement from seven relevant international organisations (OECD, WB, EC, CEDEFOP, ETF, ILO, UNESCO) sets out the benefits to workers, employers, economies, and societies of investing in career guidance provision for workers. Using an ILO definition of worker, it categorises workers into several groups: formally employed, ... Read More
July 20, 2023John McCarthy
19
Jan2023
The Department of Education, Ireland, has just published a Consultation Paper on a national framework for lifelong guidance provision. It provides a brief overview of existing career guidance provision, a rationale for a national lifelong system, a vision for a high functioning system, some guiding principles, and four strategic pillars. It offers readers ... Read More
January 19, 2023John McCarthy
02
Jan2023
THE ROLE OF CAREER GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING
EU REVIEW 2022
This CEDEFOP report maps the existing career guidance and counselling policies and practices supporting learners at risk and early leavers from vocational education and training in the 27 EU countries plus the UK. It analyses the key characteristics of these policies and practices, identifies ... Read More
January 2, 2023John McCarthy
20
Dec2022
This interesting and well researched review report of career guidance provision in Viet Nam covers all the bases that one would expect using the career guidance systems review model recently developed by the ILO. Thus, the legal instruments and their applications are well described as are the ministry roles and those of ... Read More
December 20, 2022John McCarthy
27
Jun2022
This 2 minute video, Meet the Future, produced for OECD, is intended to encourage employers to provide careers talks to school students as well as to highlight the value of careers talks as part of career education in schools.
Meet the Future is also the title of a 25 page nicely ... Read More
June 27, 2022John McCarthy
23
Jun2022
TRANSFORMING CAREERS SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS
Northern Ireland, with a population of 1.9 million is located on the island of Ireland and forms an integral political part "home country" of the United Kingdom for over 100 years. It also currently benefits from being part of the EU's Single Market, ... Read More
June 23, 2022John McCarthy
15
Jun2021
This handbook seeks to provide a state-of-the-art reference point for the field of career development. The handbook is divided into three sections. The first section explores the economic, educational, and public policy contexts within which careers are enacted. The second section explores the rich conceptual landscape of career theory. The ... Read More
June 15, 2021John McCarthy
12
Jun2021
The conference organisers are inviting submissions – by 14 July 2021 - from practitioners and researchers on how schools and communities can best prepare young people to succeed in work.For further details, please see the Call for Papers for practitioners and researchers.To submit a practice paper, sign up here and for submitting a research paper, please sign up here.Proposals ... Read More
June 12, 2021John McCarthy
12
Jun2021
On 27, 28 and 29 October 2021, OECD with ICCDPP will host a free online conference highlighting innovative research and practice focusing on how schools can prepare young people for their transitions through education into ultimate employment.The conference will begin with the presentation by Andreas Schleicher (OECD Director of Education and ... Read More
June 12, 2021John McCarthy
12
Jun2021
Using data from longitudinal studies (Australia, Denmark, and Switzerland) and other research, this working paper examines five aspects of the career learning thinking and behaviours of teenagers:Career certainty (definiteness of career plan)Career alignment (education plans matching occupational aspirations)Career ambition (high expectations for study and jobs)Instrumental motivation (understands the long-term benefits of education)Career ... Read More
June 12, 2021John McCarthy
01
Jun2021
The OECD and ICCDPP will be working together over the next six months on teenage career planning thinking and behaviour.
Research to date suggests that:
The career planning thinking and behaviour of teenagers impacts on their adult employment success and transitions - the more engagement, the more successTeenagers may under-estimate or over-estimate the ... Read More
June 1, 2021John McCarthy
01
Jun2021
This UCAS publication (April 2021) explores the reasons for choice of degree subjects of UK higher education students and applicants, and maps their decision-making journeys from primary through secondary school. It also explores the barriers and challenges they faced in the decision-making process. Based on the responses of 64,600 higher education ... Read More
June 1, 2021John McCarthy
18
Mar2021
BACK TO BASICS
There has been lots of discussion over recent years about the relevance of different job classification systems and accompanying job descriptions. Some of this has spilled onto the provision of careers information.Job classification systems and accompanying job descriptions exist to provide objective and accurate definitions and evaluations of ... Read More
March 18, 2021John McCarthy
15
Mar2021
This OECD expert paper, written by Andre Tricot, is almost 20 years old. But the principles it promotes for the development of careers information materials, are as relevant today as they were then. The English version of the paper is also to be found on this site.
March 15, 2021John McCarthy
18
Dec2020
Data-driven guidance: new OECD work on teenage indicators of career readiness
As the healthcare emergency becomes an employment crisis, it is more timely than ever to reflect on the effectiveness of career guidance interventions and ask what works and why.
This week the OECD publishes a new working paper and launches new ... Read More
December 18, 2020John McCarthy
21
Oct2020
October 21, 2020John McCarthy
04
Jun2020
LESSONS LEARNED (OECD) FROM THE 2008 GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS
Every crisis is a learning opportunity.So what did we learn from the effects of the last worldwide economic crisis, the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, on the lives and opportunities for young people?The OECD has just published some of the lessons of effective ... Read More
June 4, 2020John McCarthy
03
Apr2020
There are at least two categories of workers who continue to show up for work during this pandemic: those whose jobs do not permit them to work at a distance from home and who can't risk losing their jobs and income; and those whose jobs are critical to the functioning ... Read More
April 3, 2020John McCarthy
03
Apr2020
This note offers the International Labour Organisation's preliminary assessment concerning the possible impacts of COVID-19 on the world of work and proposes a range of policy options to mitigate these impacts and facilitate strong and fast recovery.
April 3, 2020John McCarthy
23
Mar2020
The previous post highlighted the OECD PISA 2018 findings on the impact of social class on the job expectations, career aspirations, and career planning of young people, in particular the negative impact for disadvantaged young people.This special report from the NYT (February 2020) gives a concrete example of how a Careers Centre ... Read More
March 23, 2020John McCarthy
18
Mar2020
WORKERS MOST AT RISK OF INFECTION
The US Department of Labour has a comprehensive database of over 900 occupations that can be accessed online. The characteristics of different occupations are described such as physical proximity to others, exposure to infection, if and how often a telephone is used, and how often a job ... Read More
March 18, 2020John McCarthy
13
Mar2020
TEENAGERS' CAREER ASPIRATIONS (2018) AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) measures the abilities of 15 year old school students to use their reading, mathematics and science knowledge and skills to confront real-life challenges. Its results provide useful insights to governments in participating countries and ... Read More
March 13, 2020John McCarthy
09
Jan2020
Four international organisations, OECD, ILO, UNESCO, and the European Commission, and two agencies (ETF, CEDEFOP) of one of these (European Commission) have just issued a first joint statement encouraging governments to invest in career guidance. The 12-page document describes career guidance, its importance for young people and adults in the present ... Read More
January 9, 2020John McCarthy
19
Dec2019
Realizar una reforma integral de la orientación y ofrecer intervenciones a lo largo y ancho de la vida con perspectiva de género son algunas de las propuestas que comparten tanto el Ministerio como expertos en la materia
December 19, 2019John McCarthy
31
Oct2019
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to European Union policy. It has published a series of working papers on the links between labour, education, and technology in ... Read More
October 31, 2019John McCarthy
31
Oct2019
Virtual assistant, you-tuber, app-developer.There are jobs that 20 years ago were not imaginable.Other jobs have almost disappeared.
This report is the work of The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service, which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support ... Read More
October 31, 2019John McCarthy
02
Jul2019
Profesionales de la orientación académica y profesional de 33 países se reúnen en el International Symposium for Career Development and Public Policy para reflexionar sobre los retos de esta disciplina e identificar posibles mejoras desde las políticas públicas. ¿Cómo pueden los gobiernos ayudar a las personas a construir carreras profesionales más ... Read More
July 2, 2019John McCarthy
28
Jun2019
How governments can support citizens to build fulfilling careers was the focus of the ninth International Symposium for Career Development and Public Policy, held in Tromsø, Norway on 17th-20th June 2019. During the Symposium representatives from 33 countries and from UNESCO, the OECD, European Commission, European Training Foundation and the ... Read More
June 28, 2019John McCarthy
10
Jun2019
We are pleased to bring to your attention the four synthesis papers arising from the 33 country papers prepared for the 9th International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy which will be held shortly in Tromso, Norway. They concern how policies and systems for career guidance support the public and ... Read More
June 10, 2019John McCarthy
10
Jun2019
From Norway to Chile, from Syria to Sri Lanka, from France to Japan, how are policies and systems for career guidance supporting the public and employers to manage the structural and occupational changes occurring in the labour market and their social impact?
The 33 countries participating in the 9th International Symposium ... Read More
June 10, 2019John McCarthy
14
Jan2019
CEDEFOP, an agency of the European Commission, published a handbook in 2018 that describes 25 ICT in guidance initiatives in EU Member States. Some of these initiatives were established for and in the education sector while others are from the employment sector. A common feature of both sets of initiatives is their ... Read More
January 14, 2019John McCarthy
29
Nov2018
What does the future of work look like? is a nice overview of changes already taking place and of the need for planning training for work and occupations of the future.
Which are the 21st Century skills, capabilities, and attributes, that people need for the changing world of work and occupations?
Curiosity, creativity, ... Read More
November 29, 2018John McCarthy
11
Sep2018
The OECD has recently published a working paper that examines features of good career guidance practice in assisting young people to make informed career choices. It highlights the essential role and importance of employers in helping the career learning of young people - learning about occupations, the world of work, ... Read More
September 11, 2018John McCarthy
13
Nov2017
This 2004 review covered 7 countries: Chile, Russia, Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, and Turkey. The study sought to:
to identify and describe the distinctive issues faced by developing and transition economies in forming effective policies in career guidance and counseling;
to identify emerging examples of best practice, and suggest ... Read More
November 13, 2017John McCarthy
09
Nov2017
STEM has been a buzz word in education policies in many countries in the past decade, responding to perceived existing and projected labour market skills needs. This article shows that different sets of STEM skills needs are not in equal demand across the many job areas that STEM encompasses in ... Read More
November 9, 2017John McCarthy
08
Nov2017
A 2017 Asian Development Bank consultant review of labour market information in Uzbekistan found that limited resources and information are available to assist youth and adults make informed career decisions.
Existing resources include career orientation programs in Grades 8-9, student visits to Specialized Secondary Colleges, and some Colleges have individual web ... Read More
November 8, 2017John McCarthy
05
Jul2017
Dear Readers
Most of you did not have the opportunity to attend the International Symposium in Seoul, Korea, in June 2017.
Just to recall the theme and subthemes:
Theme: Career Development: At the Crossroads of Relevance and Impact
Subtheme 1: Understanding How Work Opportunities are Changing
Subtheme 2: Ensuring that the Content and Delivery of Career ... Read More
July 5, 2017John McCarthy
23
Apr2017
Young people in Nepal face many challenges in making labour market and societal transitions, both of which are intertwined. Almost 70% of the workforce is engaged in agriculture, mainly family farming. School drop-out to support family livelihood occurs early in schooling. Emigration for work is very important in terms of ... Read More
April 23, 2017John McCarthy
13
Dec2016
In many countries, Entrepreneurship as a career option is often a marginalised choice because the general curricula of education and training at all levels pay little attention to the knowledge, skills and attitudes involved in entrepreneurship. This is often reinforced by careers information systems that emphasise employment over self-employment.
Likewise, entrepreneurship ... Read More
December 13, 2016John McCarthy
22
Sep2016
See you all in Seoul!
Please get on board our journey to Career Development: at the Crossroads of Relevance and Impact.
The 8th ICCDPP International Symposium 2017 will be held in Seoul, Korea on 18 ~ 21 June 2017.
Your country is most welcome to join us and share your thoughts and experiences ... Read More
September 22, 2016John McCarthy
12
Aug2016
The primary goal of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a specialised agency of United Nations, is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.
As part of its mission to promote social justice and internationally recognized human ... Read More
August 12, 2016John McCarthy
06
Jun2016
View and download the presentations on Labour Market Information and Career Guidance from the CEDEFOP event 16 May 2016 on this topic
They include:
ICT and LMI in career guidance
Skills mismatches and guidance policies
Integrating labour market and skills intelligence within wider skills governance strategies
Analysing online vacancies for LMI
Developing an LMI toolkit for ... Read More
June 6, 2016John McCarthy
15
Mar2016
This national strategy document has been prepared jointly by the Department of Employment and Learning and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland (part of the UK).
It sets out the background to the development of the strategy; describes and analyses the social and economic context including the ongoing reforms of ... Read More
March 15, 2016John McCarthy
10
Mar2016
An independent Law School in California is being sued by a former graduate for inflating employment data for its graduates as a way to lure students to enroll. Read more here
March 10, 2016John McCarthy
11
Dec2015
These EU Guidelines, produced by the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) provide an agreed reference framework on policies and systems for lifelong guidance across EU Member States. They aim to assist policy makers and policy developers to reflect in a systematic way on existing career guidance services and programmes ... Read More
December 11, 2015John McCarthy
14
Dec2020
CAREER READY