The Berufswahlpass (career choice passport): A portfolio approach to support CMS and career orientation
Name of the good/interesting practice/initiative/policy
The Berufswahlpass (career choice passport): A portfolio approach to support CMS and career orientation
Country
Germany
I am proposing that this example will be published also in the KSLLL database
No
1. Background
What makes this an example of good/interesting practice/initiative/policy?
- The motivation of the initiative (What is the history/background of the policy?)
- Linkages with LLG policy priorities (Please add references to other national/EU policies or documents)
- Participants
In Germany career orientation plays an important part in secondary school curricula. Educational matters are under the responsibility of the 16 federal states, the Länder. However, preparation for the world of work and career orientation has a long tradition in German secondary schools. It is of particular importance in the light of the choice of a career and the transition to the dual vocational education system. Hence, in all the Länder systematic vocational preparation and orientation are taught in a special subject which may be named differently e.g. lessons in working, work- economy-technology or they are embedded in other subjects. Here, career orientation and Career Management Skills (CMS) are key contents. In order to facilitate, support and document learning processes in the area of CMS and career orientation the portfolio Berufswahlpass (career choice passport) is used in 12 of the 16 Länder integrated into the lessons.
The Berufswahlpass was developed as part of the program “school/ economy and work” (funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and is used since 2005. Continuous further development is ensured by a working group of the participating federal states which also runs the website and organizes professional exchange and further related activities.
Aims and targets
- Objectives of the initiative (What did the policy set out to achieve?)
- Target group
- Methods applied to reach the objective (technological and /or pedagogical)
The Berufswahlpass aims to support young people in lower secondary education in their career orientation process and enables their parents, educators, guidance practitioners and employers to help them in various ways. Thus, it seeks to assess career learning and encourages critical reflection and exchange with other learners. Through the resource-oriented portfolio approach of the Berufswahlpass self-consciousness, self-esteem and self-efficacy is also strengthened.
The Berufswahlpass is a folder-based portfolio approach including information and provisions for career orientation. First it introduces important partners for making a career choice (e.g. it clarifies the roles of parents, schools, career guidance practitioners in the Employment Agencies EA , companies in the process). Further sections assess and evaluate personal interests and competences combining self- and external assessment. In addition, the Berufswahlpass contains checklists on various topics e.g. matching career profiles with personal strengths and provides documentation facilities. As the folder also includes practical information e.g. on public administrations, insurances and income, it not only focuses on vocational aspects but applies a broader understanding of life orientation.
Career education in the curriculum and the career choice process of the pupils are accompanied by career guidance activities of career counselors of the EA (lessons or short interviews in the school, visits to the Career Information Centre BIZ or counseling provision in the EA) .
2. Implementation
Strategy and actions (Please describe the approach adopted to make the reform work and any actions taken.)
- Level of implementation (national, regional etc.)
- Implementation (description)
The tool is widely used in secondary schools with about 70%-80% of the pupils in 12 federal states. It is often combined with other provisions for career orientations such as printed information material and the Internet portal “Planet Beruf” both provided by the EA (see good practice/ Case Study 5 Planet Beruf: WP2, ELGPN, 2010) and the portfolio “ProfilPASS® for young people”.
Monitoring and evaluation
- What has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation?
- What actors are involved?
Self-evaluation is part of quality assurance in the context of the use of the Berufswahlpass in schools. Defined quality standards as input criteria structure this work and provide the basis of evaluation for which material is provided online.
3. Outcomes
Achievements (Please describe the main outcomes/results according to the following headings. Each option can be answered - up to 50 words)
- Specific results
- Cost effectiveness
- Budget
- Innovative aspects
The Berufswahlpass supports the acquisition and development of Career Management Skills. In particular, it strengthens self-reflection and evaluation-skills and builds self- esteem and self-efficacy. Hence, the self exploration of interests and abilities provides a contribution to a reflected and individual career choice. At the same time the Berufswahlpass increases the motivation of the young people to involve in further learning, job search and career planning. Further, the tool may help teachers to identify students at- risk of early school leaving and may help to refer them to another programme for pupils at-risk (see good practice/ Case Study: Educational chains WP 2).
The folder is not free of charge. The prizes differ depending on the mode, type and scope of delivery but range around 5 Euro per folder. These expenses may be paid by the schools, the pupils or it may be sponsored by a government or private body.
The Berufswahlpass supports CMS acquisition and development as well as self-assessment through intensive reflection and evaluation of personal strengths, competences and interests as well as through goal setting and career planning. As an integral part of the curriculum of secondary education it is linked with other tools and initiatives and activities concerned with career orientation and guidance such as online resources, visits to the BIZ and career counselling interviews in the EA... Hence, in many German Länder it supports and accompanies a longer and systematic process of career education, orientation and planning, continuously building CMS.
Success factors (What key success factors have led to or prevented success?)
- Lessons learnt
- Unintended impacts (Have there been any unintended impacts? Positive or negative?)
The tool may function as an accreditation instrument for those pupils who do not succeed gaining their secondary school certificate.
Strengths and weaknesses
- What areas of the policy can we learn lessons from?
- Are there still challenges ahead?
The folder based approach of the Berufswahlpass involves some challenges as it rather appeals to young people who are at with written work and with portfolios and folders. In addition, the intensive use of the portfolio in the school may attach the tool closely to the logic of school and to this period of time. Thus, there is a danger that young people will not go back using their folder after they have left school.
4. Additional narrative description of the policy/practice/initiative
On the whole, the Berufswahlpass contains the following sections:
- Introduction: Overview over the steps and stages of successful career orientation
- Part 1 “Providers and cooperation”: introduction to the important partners and their tasks (e.g. school, parents, guidance service of the EA, companies)
- Part 2 “Way towards career choice”: assessment and evaluation of interests, competences etc.; checklists on matching skills and interests with job demands (includes counselling of EA and planning the transition from school to VET)
- Part 3: Documentation: collection of all the information gathered
(e.g. interests, goals, practical experiences); arrangement and valuation of the collected documents and certificates
More details in German language under : www.berufswahlpass.de
Additional information
Name of contact
Dr. Bernhard Jenschke
Role (in policy initiative)
Vice President of German National Guidance Forum in Education, Career and Employment ( nfb)
Organization name
National Guidance Forum in Education, Career and Employment (Nationales Forum Beratung in Bildung, Beruf und Beschäftigung e.V., nfb)
Address
Nationales Forum Beratung in Bildung, Beruf und Beschäftigung e.V., Kurfürstenstr. 131, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Phone
+493025793741
Fax
+4930263980999
bernhard@jenschke.de; info@forum-beratung.de
Website address
http://www.forum-beratung.de
Documents and publications
Attached files
Links
http://www.berufswahlpass.de
This information was provided/updated by:
Dr. Bernhard Jenschke, nfb
No comments by users.
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Partnership based URIHO's model of CMS for persons with disability in Croatia
Name of the good/interesting practice/initiative/policy
Partnership based URIHO's model of CMS for persons with disability in Croatia
Country
Croatia
I am proposing that this example will be published also in the KSLLL database
No
1. Background
What makes this an example of good/interesting practice/initiative/policy?
- The motivation of the initiative (What is the history/background of the policy?)
- Linkages with LLG policy priorities (Please add references to other national/EU policies or documents)
- Participants
According to conducted researches (UNDP/CES research 2007) and monitoring of labour market situation in Croatia it is visible that persons with disabilities have difficulties to enter open labour market because of their inadequate educational structure, lack of work experience and long term unemployment what additionally decrease their employability because of disuse of professional knowledge and diminished motivation. Prejudices of employers and general public about their working abilities also contribute to their hard placement on open labour market.
The Strategy on Equalization of Possibilities for Persons with disabilities in Croatia (2007-2015) among others states: “to allow access to career management for persons with disabilities...to develop new employment models for persons with disabilities”.
Croatian Employment Service in cooperation with URIHO (organization for rehabilitation), Fond for vocational rehabilitation and local communities have developed model to enhance the employability of unemployed persons with disabilities by improving their career management skills using tailor made work-related and social activities.
Aims and targets
- Objectives of the initiative (What did the policy set out to achieve?)
- Target group
- Methods applied to reach the objective (technological and /or pedagogical)
The objective of established new model of professional rehabilitation is to enhance the employability of persons with disabilities by improving their career management skills using tailor made work-related and social activities. Target groups of participants are long-term unemployed persons with disabilities and in smaller extent other vulnerable and marginalized groups.
2. Implementation
Strategy and actions (Please describe the approach adopted to make the reform work and any actions taken.)
- Level of implementation (national, regional etc.)
- Implementation (description)
New model includes activities which take place in group settings, individual sessions and social-related activities - assessment and upgrading of their vocational competences, their key competences - communication in mother tongue, mathematical and digital competences, sense of initiative and entrepreneurship; social skills, job-searching skills including how to write CV-s, knowledge and skills needed for their interview with potential employer. They also have possibility for self-evaluation by using “My Choice” - career guidance software. In addition, individual counseling on career possibilities leads towards improving their career management skills. Group work is organized once a week (1, 5 hour) and is focused on themes such as: communication and presentation skills, non-violent conflict resolution, recognition and expression of emotions, stress management, decision- making, creative and critical thinking, building effective relationships, team work, self-assessment, ect. Group work is based on interactive approach which includes group discussions, role plays, working in pairs, presentations.
The described model of professional rehabilitation has started as model at national level followed by setting up similar regional professional rehabilitation centers.
Monitoring and evaluation
- What has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation?
- What actors are involved?
The evaluation of this programme proves that after 6 months participants improve their working potential including different aspects related to career management skills.
Croatian Employment Service is involved in process of monitoring the participants’ progress, conducting evaluation of the program and works on improvement of this form of vocational rehabilitation along with the other partners. Additionally, new model of professional rehabilitation contributed to the increased level of cooperation among all partners: Croatian Employment Service, URIHO (Institution for Rehabilitation of Persons With Disability by Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment), the City of Zagreb and Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities.
3. Outcomes
Achievements (Please describe the main outcomes/results according to the following headings. Each option can be answered - up to 50 words)
- Specific results
- Cost effectiveness
- Budget
- Innovative aspects
Participants have learnt how to write CV, how to make active job search and effective interview with potential employer. They have improved their career management skills through self-evaluation techniques, by using “My Choice” career guidance software, individual and group counseling. According to the survey and follow up 45% of unemployed persons with disabilities who used URIHO facilities found their jobs on open labor market.
Success factors (What key success factors have led to or prevented success?)
- Lessons learnt
- Unintended impacts (Have there been any unintended impacts? Positive or negative?)
The main factors which led to success of this model were: improved vertical and horizontal communication between all key players who were indispensable for CMS policy implementation. CMS policy implementation was incremental and gradual due to bottom up process which relayed on constant observation and assessment of needs of participants involved in the activities of professional rehabilitation.
The factors that hindered success were unclear legislation regulations about participant’s compensations during the rehabilitation process which influenced their motivation. This issue was resolved through communication with the relevant ministry.
Strengths and weaknesses
- What areas of the policy can we learn lessons from?
- Are there still challenges ahead?
4. Additional narrative description of the policy/practice/initiative
Additional information
Name of contact
Mirjana Zećirević
Role (in policy initiative)
Head, Employment Preparation Department
Organization name
Croatian Employment Service
Address
Radnička cesta 1, 10 000 Zagreb
Phone
+385 1612 6091
Fax
+385 1612 6039
mirjana.zecirevic@hzz.hr
Website address
www.hzz.hr
Documents and publications
Attached files
Links
No links specified.
This information was provided/updated by:
No comments by users.
good practice, initiative, interesting practice, policy, assessment, key competences, self-evaluation, vocational rehabilitation, disabled, Croatia, adult education, employment, social inclusion, people at risk, unemployed, disadvantaged groups, career information, qualifications, effectiveness