UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND Career counseling and guidance education in Iceland Faculty of Social and Human Sciences Sif Einarsdóttir Associate professor

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND Career counseling and guidance program at the University of Iceland From fall 2010, 2- year MA degree Overview of talk History Development Influencing forces Revisions and establishement of new 2 year MA program Future development

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND The program founded Career counseling and guidance program formally founded in Education department 1990 –One year program after BA/B.Ed/BS degree (diploma in career counseling and guidance) Guðbjörg Vilhjálmsdóttir hired in 1991 as program co-coordinator and instructor Based on the work of the committee –emphasis on career guidance in schools Program based on four foundations 1.Career counselling and guidance 2.Careers education 3.Personal counselling 4.Research and development (Guðbjörg Vilhjálmsdóttir, 1998)

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND Changes in the program Diploma (1 year): ( ) Theoretical and practical emphasis to meet new demands for trained career counselors. Practical training increased (1998/9): with more educated and experienced counselors working in schools Distance education: ( and ) Meet the demands for career counselors outside Reykjavík. More emphasis on employment counseling. MA degree two parts, diploma + 2nd year ( ): Transition stage gives counselors with diploma opportunity to add a 2nd year and graduate with a Masters degree. Objectives: expand knowledge in the field and increase research and development skills Courses offered 2nd year -Research methods -Employment counselling and use of assessment instruments -Elective courses (disability, gender studies, etc.) -Masters thesis

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND The students An undergraduate degree is required prefarably in the field of education or social sciences. Undergraduates in other fields need to add up to two foundational courses (Individual and society, education and psychology-developmental) –Diverse educational background –Diverse age, experienced adults and recent graduates –Ethnic, gender diversity? => Dynamic educational environment 35 new students accepted each year for MA, Re-entering counsellors for MA degree total a year 90-95% women, majority returning students age teachers for example

Distribution of career counselors over sectors in Iceland 2012 N=329

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND Influencing factors Counselor education at the UI modeled by Anglo-Saxon traditions, knowledge base and practices more than Scandinavian or Continental Life-long learning in the knowledge based society Special task force on guidance and adult education for working adults with no formal degrees after compulsory education Growing demand for career counseling and guidance, first in schools now with employed adults. More complex job-market and educational opportunities especially in higher education (globalization and competition) Lack of support from authorities and policy makers, until recently –Reports from a committee at the ministry of education 1998 and 2007, little changes in support system except for MA degree –Law just passed about legalization of the profession –Recent education laws – every student has the right to receive career guidance

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND Objectives and aims of program revisions More balance between educational and vocational/employment counselling (life-long guidance) More on-site practical training Diversity issues integrated in all courses Increase research skills and knowledge in the field Public policy? Accreditation and quality assurance Co-operation with Career Counselor Association, policy makers and institutions Participants in Erasmus-NICE project with 40 European Universities, development of curriculum and teaching methods Direct Nordplus network, with 15 institutions - curricular development how to educate those that work with adults Meet the needs of students living outside Reykjavík-long distance program integrated

Competencies of counselors Revisions were based on few - competency fromaworks for career counselors –IAVEG –CEDEFOP –CACREP – US –Nice Core Competencies – European Erasmus network UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND

Structure of the 2 year MA degree First year. NSR007FCounselling Theories 10 ECTS. NSR008FPractical training 1 – social context 10 ECTS FÉL027F*The sociology of labour market and organizations 10 ECTS. NSR203F*Personal and Social Problems of Students 10 ECTS *Students can choose between FÉL027 and NSR203 NSR013FCareer Development Theories. 10 ECTS. NSR009FCareer development, intervention and programme evaluation 8 ECTS. NSR202FMeasurement and assessment 6 ECTS. NSR010FPractical training 1 – communication 6 ECTS. Second year NN#Research methods. 10 ECTS. Mandatory but the students can choose from many different qualitative or quantitative courses offered at the graduate level at the University of Iceland or other Universities NSR011FPractical Training 2a – workshop and field work 7 ECTS. NSR012FPractical Training 2b – workshop and field work. 7 ECTS. NN#Free eclectives 6 ECTS. Students can choose from a variety of courses offered within the University and at other Universities NSR303FMA-Thesis. 30 ECTS. UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND

A profession on the fast track Pioneering period fading out – have been strengthening the educational foundation Increased professionalization - integrated professional self concept Increased knowledge base through research Better on site-training Greater confidence

UNIVERSITY OF ICELAND