Guidance systems across Europe: heritage, change and the art of becoming

Abstract

Guidance systems exist within learning, working and welfare cultures, which are upheld by prevailing institutions and stakeholders. Implementing a lifelong approach questions rooted codes and idiosyncrasies of the sectors across which guidance is distributed. To support individuals' careers, unlock their potential and increase their contribution to the economy i.e. support their process of becoming, lifelong guidance must strive for effective systems' integration across policy fields, cultures and organisations. This article departs from national experiences and discusses how cultures and institutional contexts generate resistance to change, but can also be the departure point for the successful development of lifelong support to people's careers.

Keywords:

• career guidance
• lifelong guidance
• counselling
• active labour market policy
• lifelong learning
• path dependence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Dr Pedro Moreno da Fonseca is a researcher and project manager in lifelong guidance at the European Centre for Vocational Education and Training (Cedefop). He is also a researcher in the Sociology Institute of the University of Porto. He has been actively involved in the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN).

Notes

1. The UK is not a fully liberal system, since most of welfare provisions are under the public Jobcentre Plus, with limited quasi-market arrangements in a limited number of ‘Employment Zones’. It is, nevertheless, a strong private supply market, unlike most European countries.