1. Graziana BOSCATO
Directrice Centre d’Information et d’Orientation, Strasbourg
Euroguidance – France
Roma 2015, October 7th.

2. Lifelong guidance system in France
a great diversity of the services providing information and guidance
a wide range of techniques, of practices, of practitioners ( people employed in guidance counseling)
a large number of guidance providers
guidance policy organized at national level
….but for the end user a lack of visibility

3. Information, guidance and counseling services can be describe by:
Target groups: school pupils, young people, adults, unemployed, women, disabled…
Kind of service offered: individual counseling, skill audit, group or individual services, training, information…
Practitioners’ qualifications: counselors, psychologists, teachers, information providers, social workers…
Status of services: public, private, voluntary, commercial, professional
Financing: state, local authority, joint organizations, enterprises, users

4. The law has created a « public lifelong guidance service »
It is organized “to guarantee all people an access to free, full and objective information on occupations, training, certifications, job opportunities and remuneration levels as well as access to quality, networked guidance advisory and assistance services.”.

6. New law for guidance since 2015
A new law organizes the regional guidance public service “le service public regional de l’orientation (SPRO)” which responds to user’s expectations while taking account to economical development areas.
The State defines at a National level guidance policy regarding pupils and students at schools and universities.
The region coordinates actions of others organisms inside the regional guidance public service. The region has an information role and put in place the network regarding the “validation des acquis d’expérience” (accreditation of prior learning).

7. Guidance services - Ministry of Education
Target groups: post-primary schools, higher and further education institutions, roughly 515 guidance services (CIO Centre d’Information et d’Orientation) and a national information provider ONISEP (Office National d’Information sur les Enseignements et les Professions).
Guidance practitioners: “ Conseillers d’Orientation Psychologues “ and teachers (schools). These counselors are working both in the educational institutions and in guidance centers. They have a master degree in guidance and counselling. (4500)
An entity called MLDS (Mission de lutte contre le décrochage scolaire) which is focusing on school droppers. Staff: teachers
In each university there is a guidance service called SCUIO (Service Commun Universitaire d’Information et d’Orientation). Staff: guidance counselor/psychologists, university teachers, information librarians. (Information, guidance, stage, transition to labour market…)

8. Guidance services - Ministry of employment
Target groups: adults who are seeking for an employment or wish to retrain, move or develop additional skills.
This provision is delivered by employment advisors through the countrywide network of national employment agencies called Pôle Emploi
Maisons de l’emploi : another network to help the various agencies involved (local authorities, Pôle Emploi), to work more closely together on the basis of an area plan.
Centre INFFO : the national information centre for continuing training. His task is to disseminate information to all those who work in continuing vocational training in the broadest sense.

9. Other bodies offering guidance services
CARIFs : at regional level, information about continuing vocational training is spread by training action, resource and information centres. Financed jointly by the Government and the regions, the CARIFs have links with social partners and with public and private bodies involved in vocational training. They maintain up-to-date documentation on training provision at regional level.
Local offices (Missions Locales): they welcome, inform and guide youngsters (16-25ans) having social and workplace integration difficulties. They try to help them into their integration pathway and to access to lasting employment.
Some training organizations include, as part of their work, guidance, advice and placement services.
APEC: agency for manager’s employment. Private non- profit making society (45 centres all over the country)

10. Other bodies offering guidance services
Some joint bodies managing training-insurance funds – as the Individual Training-Leave Management Fund (Fonds de gestion du congé individuel de formation or FONGECIF) – inform employees about their entitlements and advise them
Chambers of Commerce and Industry, chamber of Crafts or some economic sectors have set up structures to develop guidance work
Interinstitutional skills-assessment centers (Centre Interinstitutionnel de Bilans de Compétences CIBC) serve both employees and job-seekers who need to plan their careers
Private guidance centers and private press agencies such as L’Etudiant, Studyrama, offer information for secondary school and university students.

11. Main national databases (public) for education/studies/VET opportunities and jobs
Onisep: jobs description, all kinf of learning opportunities in France, distant guidance
Orientation pour tous
Pôle emploi: job opportunities, jobs description/adults
Intercarif: training opportunities for adults at regional level
National certification body/EQF (Commission nationale certification professionnelle/CNCP) Directory of all French qualifications

12. EUROGUIDANCE France network
A network to answer the end-users’ need in a life long guidance perspective.
Counselling and providing information on guidance and mobility issues
Developing European dimension in guidance activities

13. Steering group Euroguidance Resources centres
higher education and research
Ministry for national education
Ministry for Labour, Employment, VT, social dialogue
Erasmus + National Agency

14. EG centres /Education
4 Guidance centres located in Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg and a national network of guidance centres in each « Academie »
ONISEP: National Office of Information on studies and professions
Ends users: youngsters, students, adults
Guidance practitioners and staff from education community mainly
Mobility operators
Companies staff and other public services,
Training professionals, French and European citizens

15. EG centres /Employment
CARIF Espace Competences: regional information centre on vocational training /Marseille
Centre INFFO: national centre for the development of information on vocational training
French and European vocational professionals
Adults
Counselling and guidance bodies
Public institutions
Training centres
Social partners
Firms

16. PROVISION Information, counselling and e.counselling
Implementation of information materials on mobility issues
Training sessions in France or in Europe
Running of information sessions on International mobility
Participation and organization of a number of fairs for students and high school youngsters
Information on the French VET system
Development of the quality assurance of information and guidance provision
Networking with other professionals on mobility issues

19. Publications

21. Study visits

22. Entretien mobilité module d’autoformation
On line tool to train counselors on mobility issues

23. Thank you for your attention!