Internet portal www.planet-beruf.de as leading instrument to support career choice and access to career guidance
Name of the good/interesting practice/initiative/policy
Internet portal www.planet-beruf.de as leading instrument to support career choice and access to career guidance
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
This information portal “planet-beruf.de ” is a combination of different online media supporting young people, teachers and parents in all issues of career choice and also to find the regional service for career guidance and placement into apprenticeships. This combination of online media is accompanied by the yearly updated print and CD media distributed to students, teachers and parents.
The internet portal is provided by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) which has the legal task to provide career guidance for young people and adults. According to § 33 Social Code III this includes the provision of career information and orientation as part of the service. The portal and the assisting print and other media are part of the realisation of the legal task for the target groups. They are also used within the career education classes which are provided co-operatively within schools by teachers and career counsellors according to the Agreement between the BA and the Standing Conference of the Education Ministers of the Laender (KMK) on the Framework of Cooperation between Career Service and Schools (2004).
This example aims at widening access (policy priority of the EU Resolution 2008) to guidance which assists young people to prepare their choice of career and training in a well informed and systematic way. This modern ICT tool also helps users to make an appointment for a face-to-face guidance session if necessary. In addition it is an outstanding example for a concrete co-operation across the two sectors –education and employment (policy priorityEU Resolution 2008).
The online portal www.planet-beruf.de is developed, financed, edited and permanently updated by the Federal Employment Agency considering the changes in schools, training and further training and the labour market.
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 media combination consists of the online portal “planet-beruf.de” (planet profession), a self-exploration programme “Berufe-Universum” (Universe of Professions), a training programme “How to apply for a training or job” and assisting print and CDs media. The self-exploration programme contains a questionnaire to assess interests, strengths, occupational behaviour and school marks to compare this information with job requirements leading to proposals of professions which fit to the user´s profile (you can land on your fitting planets respectively professions). The universe of professions shows the professional profiles and gives further detailed information including videos and films about the related profession or training and on the online portal. It also informs the user whether training opportunities/apprenticeships are available in the region. The online portal is linked to the nationwide databases of all professions (BERUFENET) and the database for all further training facilities including HE (KURSNET)) as well as to the Online Job Market (JOBBOERSE). Besides this online approach comprehensive information and exploration facilities are provided in the local Career Information Centres BIZ.
The aims of the online portal are complex and vary according to the target group. Students of lower secondary schools are the main target group. Planet profession aims to support their choice of a career, to assist their application process and to find a suitable training or apprenticeship. Teachers receive stimulations and suggestions for the career education classes and parents get advice how to support the career choice of their children. But also guidance practitioners, social workers and other partners make use of this offer.
Following a comprehensive approach the detailed media combination covers all relevant aspects of the career choice process. Therefore all media are structured along the process “informing – deciding – applying” and can be used in a flexible way in the classroom, at home or during the counselling session. The class room teaching in career education becomes more vivid and activity oriented. Teachers receive practical ideas for the exploration of strengths and interests as well as for career choice support and application needs. Students are activated through discovering learning and interactive elements and become more self conscious.
The concept, update and elaboration of the media is accompanied and monitored by an editorial board of teachers representatives, social partners and of teachers training institutions.
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 portal is located within the overall webpage of the Federal Employment Agency (www.arbeitsagentur.de) but can also be accessed separately (www.planet-beruf.de). The online portal is assisted by print and CD media which are distributed to more than 11 000 schools and are used in the career classes to increase the use of the portal. Parts of the content can also be used as teaching material during lessons. The online portal is linked to other career initiatives like the Girl´s Day or the Career Choice Passport. All initiatives are implemented nationwide regardless the different school systems of the Laender. Regional agreements on the cooperation of schools with the career service recommend the use of the media of the BA.
Monitoring and evaluation
- What has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation?
- What actors are involved?
Monthly statistics count the number of users and the calls of pages. Proposals of the customer’s reaction management are welcome and considered for the further development and updating. In 2010 an online user satisfaction survey is planned.
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
Since the start of the portal in autumn 2008 nearly 6 million visitors were counted with about 60 million calls/clicks of pages (March 2010).
Economic aspects of effectiveness are given through the comprehensive use of the portal by students, teachers, counsellors and parents according to their different needs and in increasing the level of information and the self and career awareness of the target groups.
Additionally, the other media (prints, CDs) and the class room teaching of teachers and counsellors become more effective. The face-to-face counselling sessions are more solidly prepared and therefore more effective.
The planet-beruf portal is financed by the regular budget of the Federal Employment Agency (by contributions of employers and employees) in the frame of its legal tasks.
The possibility to integrate all related aspects of information in a comprehensive way reinforce career activities of students, teachers and parents by the use of modern technology. More over the ICT tool allows students to “play” and navigate around the issues of career in a way youth nowadays are familiar with. Youngsters with poor ICT skills can get more competences in using them and thus become more self conscious. In addition new opportunities for teachers are offered by the portal to make their teaching more attractive and authentic in activating students by ICT tools. There are also chat room meetings (dates announced right in advance) where special issues can be discussed or relevant actual information is given by experts.
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 online portal and related print media are linked to each other and both deepen the career reflections of all involved. Therefore, it is necessary to look after comprehensive networking with the contents of the portal in all future print media. This networking is also supposed to include the self exploration programme Berufe-Universum (universe of professions): For the proposed professions according to the strengths and interests of the user more detailed information like profiles of professions, daily schedules of job holders, authentic reports on the reality of the professions and videos and films are offered. Within the interactive portal public stars (like famous soccer players, actors, musicians or others) appear as door openers for questions of career choice by telling their personal (success) stories.
Other persons or institutions working also in the field of career orientation co-operate with the portal planet-beruf.de or use elements of the portal for their work. This means stimulation for co-operation in the guidance field.
Strengths and weaknesses
- What areas of the policy can we learn lessons from?
- Are there still challenges ahead?
The strength of this example is without doubt the modern form of ICT approach and the structure and design of the online portal which makes it interesting and attractive for young users. Furthermore, the combination of different tools with related databases makes the complex portal a valuable and flexible support for the task of career guidance and widens access to the offers of the guidance services as a whole.
4. Additional narrative description of the policy/practice/initiative
On June 25th, 2010 the Federal Employment Agency was awarded the Comenius multimedia award 2010 for the internet portal www.planet-beruf.de. It received the Comenius-EduMedia-medal for outstanding examples of multimedia products. The award acknowledges the portal’s pedagogical concept, its content and design and underlines that it is particularly suitable for young people.
The Comenius-EduMedia-medal has been awarded for the 15th time by the Society for Pedagogy and Information (Gesellschaft für Paedagogik und Information, GPI). The Comenius awards are the most significant prizes for ICT-based education media.
Additional information
Name of contact
Dieter Romann
Role (in policy initiative)
Organization name
Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Zentrale Team SP III 21 Beratung/Orientierung/Information/U-25 (Federal Employment Agency)
Address
Phone
+49 (0)911 179 1365
Fax
+49 (0)911/179 1333
Dieter.Romann@arbeitsagentur.de
Website address
http://www.planet-beruf.de
Documents and publications
Attached files
Links
http://www.planet-beruf.de
This information was provided/updated by:
Dr. Bernhard Jenschke, bernhard@jenschke.de
No comments by users.
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“Early intervention” activities with pupils – partnership based holistic approach in Croatia
Name of the good/interesting practice/initiative/policy
“Early intervention” activities with pupils – partnership based holistic approach 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
The importance of creating social, educational and other conditions for the welfare of young people and their responsible participation in community, including the prevention of early – school leaving is emphasized as priorities in European strategies (e.g. Europe 2020, New Skills for New Jobs) and many national strategies in Croatia (National Youth Program from 2009 - 2013, Development Strategy of the Vocational Education System in the Republic Of Croatia 2008-2013, National Strategy for Entrepreneurial Learning, National Strategy of Equalization of Possibilities for Persons with Disabilities 2007 – 2015).
Presently, career guidance in Croatia is a transversal and comprehensive activity with a cross - sectored approach in youth policy implementation. A clear mandate is given to Croatian Employment Service (CES) to provide support to the educational system through vocational and career guidance services. This approach has been developed on partnership bases between CES, schools, employers, health and social welfare organizations.
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)
Croatian Employment Service includes “early intervention” activities in career guidance as an integrated part of its responsibilities to prevent early – school leaving. This approach has proven to be successful since Croatia has a very low rate of early school leavers (3.9%) in comparison to the European countries (where the average rate is close to 15%).
A key feature in Croatian model is client-oriented approach aiming at providing tailor-made services for pupils at risk (early - school leavers, pupils with health and social problems, learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, etc). Educational, psychological, medical and social aspects are assessed for these target groups which are most in need of comprehensive vocational and career guidance services.
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)
Career guidance services are provided to pupils and students using the so-called ˝tiered services˝, starting from the fact that the largest number of pupils need to be informed about their future possibilities in order to make decision; some of them need additional counseling and are included in group counseling sessions and the smallest number (about 10%) are offered the most intense and complex services which could include psychological-medical assessment as well (for those with the risk of being early – school leavers, pupils with health and social problems, learning difficulties, behavioral disorders, etc). Secondary schools students who achieve poor results are also referred to the expert team for career guidance.
Croatian Employment Service conducts a Survey on Vocational Intentions of Primary and Secondary School Pupils on a yearly basis. Under the leadership of CES professionals, expert teams are set-up in each primary and secondary educational institution in order to analyze the outcomes of the Survey and identify priority groups who may require special attention. Analysis is conducted on individual level (for each pupil), regional level (in relation to labor market needs) of and national level (trends in vocational intentions).
Each year the Ministry of Education adopts the Decision on Elements and Criteria for Candidate Selection for High-School Enrolment enabling pupils with developmental disabilities, health difficulties, learning difficulties, behavioral and emotional difficulties as well as pupils from the Roma minority to achieve direct enrolment or receive extra points to the score set in the enrolment valuation process. In order to obtain these rights, pupils among other documents enclose an expert opinion of the CES career guidance service on their abilities and motivation with a list of recommended educational programmes. In expert opinions on the most adequate choice of further education, needs of the labour market and education opportunities are taken into account, as well as the student's individual abilities and needs. In case of pupils with developmental disabilities (physical or mental disability), career guidance expert team’s opinion enables them direct enrolment in specialized schools or training programs.
Monitoring and evaluation
- What has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation?
- What actors are involved?
Monitoring and evaluation of career guidance services in Croatia is carried out periodically by Croatian Employment Service in co-ordination with secondary and tertiary educational institutions. According to the results of the Survey on pupil’s intentions, approximately 60% of the pupil population expresses a need for professional assistance in their choice of further education program. It indicates a further need for further development of group methods and e-counseling services for pupils and students. Career guidance services are planned on a yearly basis according to the expressed needs.
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
In a partnership based approach and coordination between employment and educational sectors, it is considered more cost effective to the entire society to provide adequate support to those of greater need at primary and secondary school rather than spending public money for unemployed citizens when adults.
Career guidance services in Croatian Employment Service are considered a key element in preventive activities in order to avoid potential social exclusion. On average, 30% of the pupil/student population in Croatia is included in the “early intervention” activities of CES career guidance services.
In addition, aggregate results of the Survey on pupil’s intentions indicate the trends in pupils'/students' vocational intentions and are delivered to the stakeholders in the field of education and employment on the county and national level. According to the Survey and forecasting the needs of the labor market for certain occupations, every year recommendations for enrollment policy and scholarship policy are made and referred to the educational institutions, local and regional stakeholders, sector councils and the Ministry of Education.
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 key feature of the ˝early intervention˝ model is client-oriented approach aiming at providing tailor-made services for pupils at risk. It represents a multidisciplinary approach that involves co-operation and co-ordination of experts in the fields of education, employment, health and social welfare. It has proven to be successful since Croatia has a very low rate of early school leavers (3.7%).
Strengths and weaknesses
- What areas of the policy can we learn lessons from?
- Are there still challenges ahead?
One of the challenges is the positive discrimination of pupils at risk as a way of addressing their disadvantages in educational and labor surroundings. A necessity to develop more efficient tailor-made CG services for pupils at risk exists, which leaves fewer opportunities for providing CG services to other target groups (undeceive pupils, talented pupils, etc.).
Currently, Croatia is in the process of establishing a LLCG National Forum and drafting legislation for guidance provision. The awareness of inter-institutional cooperation is increasing, including the need to define the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders on national, regional and local levels.
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
http://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, career counselling, career guidance services, disabilities, health difficulties, learning difficulties, co-operation, co-ordination, Croatia, drop-out, early school leaver, effectiveness, employment services, expert opinion, group counselling, young people, schools, guidance provision, labour market information, PES career guidance service, prevention, professional informing, school children, secondary education, self-assessment, survey, transition, vocational guidance, youth education, VET, employment, guidance in schools, career information
Act On Education In Primary And Secondary Schools
Subject of the Policy document
Act On Education In Primary And Secondary Schools
Reference data
Adopted/Released by The Croatian Parliament
Year of adoption 2008/2009/2010/2011
Reference number Official Gazette 87/08, 86/09, 92/10, 105/10, 90/11
Available at http:// narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2011_08_90_1927.html
Available in English at http://
1. Additional narrative description of the reference to Lifelong Guidance
Article 57
(1) Educational institutions cooperate in implementation of their core educational activity to achieve optimal enrolment and placement of pupils.
(2) Schools also cooperate by receiving services from a social / health care institution, especially if it concerns work with rehabilitation services and content.
(3) Educational institutions cooperate with employment services and other institutions with the aim of achieving timely information levels and career guidance of pupils.
Attached files
This information was provided/updated by:
Croatian Employment Service (CES), Employment Preparation Department
No comments by users.
policy, enrolment and placement of pupils, access, career guidance, children, co-operation, co-ordination, comprehensive school, compulsory education, Croatia, education and training systems, education policy, guidance for youth, guidance in schools, primary education, secondary education, vocational education and training, youth education, legislation, co-operation and co-ordination, schools, VET