Development and quality assurance of information, advice and guidance services. Case Finland Jyväskylä 5 June 2009 IAEVG conference

THEMATIC SEMINAR 10 General policy objectives for development programmes in Finland National development programme for guidance and counselling services in basic education ESR funded development programmes Coordination of the national development programme: Targeted and need-based information, advice and counselling services for adults. The national development programme 2007–2013. (Erno Hyvönen) On-line Educational Advice and Career Guidance project (NUOVE, Seija Pohjanoksa) Discussion

THE BACKGROUND OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPING PUBLIC SERVICES VALUES Constitutional and human rights – active citizenship Equality and equity – transparency and access, diversity Reliability and validity– quality assurance, evidence based development Up dated services – global and European trends, national guidelines, regional strategies PROCESSES Multi-professional and cross-sectoral cooperation – national and regional Citizens’ job satisfaction and well-being at work Customer oriented approach

General policy objectives and actions in Finland The Ministry of Education ME has launched a development programme for basic education to improve the quality in education. Six different national projects started in : 1) special education, 2) student welfare services, 3) home and school cooperation, club activities, 4) multicultural skills, 5) support for roman pupils and 6) school counselling. Reform of vocational adult education Reform of legislation for higher education National qualification framework (EQF) in > recognition of prior learning Education and training guarantee: 97 % of the age group should continue their studies after basic education

General policy objectives and actions in Finland The Ministry of Employment and the Economy To promote the availability of labour, steps will be promoted to shorten the time required for completing degrees, extend work careers, increase the incentive aspect of social security, and promote work-based immigration. ACTIVE TRANSITIONS. Projects to reconcile work and family life will be promoted. At the same time, the programme will need to find ways of improving job satisfaction and well- being at work. Admission rates to education will be adjusted to respond to the demand of labour markets. Professional and geographical mobility will be increased. Apprenticeship, supplementary and post-qualification training (also involving universities) will be expanded and made more responsive to demand. Youth Society Guarantee (young people unemployed for three months < 25 years)

COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOLS VOCATIONAL COLLEGES POLYTECHNICS UNIVERSITIES EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICES Vocational guidance and career planning Educational and vocational information services Employment exchange services CENTRE FOR INTER- NATIONAL MOBILITY CIMO Euroguidance Finland FINNISH GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SYSTEM MINISTRY OF EDUCATION MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE ECONOMY

National development programme for guidance provision in basic education 1 Background: Finnish National Board of Education managed a development project for career guidance services in educational sector in The objectives were: development of regional, local and multi-professional co-operation development of co-operation between different educational settings development of educational and vocational guidance in terms of methods and content development of quality criteria for educational and vocational guidance and counselling services in educational sector development of systematic feedback and monitoring system

National development programme for guidance provision in basic education 2 In 2008 the Ministry of Education launched a development programme for guidance services in basic education -127 municipalities and 21 private schools -For 6-9 grades in basic education -Coordinator in each project, contact person to the FNBE and ME -Evaluation of the programme -Training programme for counsellors, teachers and cooperation groups in the regions

National development programme for guidance provision in basic education 3 Objectives of the development programme for guidance services in basic education -to develop career counselling services in basic education -to guarantee a study place in second stage education – successful transition -to strengthen the cooperation between school and home -to increase knowledge of the teachers about educational opportunities and working life -to develop cooperation between school and working life -to increase multiprofessional cooperation to prevent social exclusion

National ESR funded development programmes The ESF programme supports the achievement of the Community's social inclusion objectives laid down in the Lisbon strategy and the European Employment Strategy as well as the implementation of the relevant National Reform Programmes. The target of the programme is to concentrate on the most important challenges of the labour, education and industrial policies, so that ESF measures will complement and bring genuine added value to the national activities. Priority 1: Development of work organisations, the workforce and enterprises, and promoting entrepreneurship Priority 2: Promoting access to employment and sustainable inclusion in the labour market and preventing social exclusion Priority 3: Development of skills, innovation and services systems that promote the functioning of the labour market

Priority 2: Promoting access to employment and sustainable inclusion in the labour market and preventing social exclusion 1)Ministry of the Interior: Counselling and guidance services for immigrants in Finland in early stage and development of immigrants’ skills and competences – service design Objectives: - Finnish language skills and degree (according to Finnish qualification framework) integration -> employment - service design in regions -> flexible modification for different needs - coordination of the services – national and regional level

2) Ministry of Education, the Finnish National Board of Education: Better life management skills, from studies to work Objectives: - development of support mechanisms in transitions from basic education to second stage (vocational or general upper secondary education) - development of guidance and counselling services, student welfare systems, work practice processes and cooperation between school and working life, and dormitory activities - improvement of adolescents’ life management skills Priority 2: Promoting access to employment and sustainable inclusion in the labour market and preventing social exclusion

Priority 3: Development of skills, innovation and services systems that promote the functioning of the labour market 1) Ministry of Education, the Finnish National Board of Education, State Provincial Office of Oulu : Experts for working life (Needs of working life and work practice in vocational and higher education) Objectives: - the content of education and the demands of working life are in congruence - promoting transition from education to work - preventing suspension or extension of studies - cooperation between educational institutions and working life in regions

Priority 3: Development of skills, innovation and services systems that promote the functioning of the labour market 2) The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, State Provincial Office of Southern Finland: Targeted and need-based information, advice and counselling services for adults. The national development programme 2007–2013. Objectives: efficient and need-based information, advice and counselling services for citizens in education or working life and for unemployed people development of practitioners’ competences: teachers and counsellors in education, psychologists and advisers in employment offices quality assurance and evidence base for development of guidance provision and policy

BACKGROUND OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Working group established jointly by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour (2005–2006) (present Ministry of Employment and the Economy) Proposals: 1.Providing easy-to-use information services suitable for adults 2.Improving the accessibility of advisory and guidance services 3.Developing new instruments and operating methods for recognising the skills of the working age adult population to support guidance 4.Reinforcing the strategic position of guidance and research and providing more training for those giving guidance 5.The development policy will require co-operation and networking

Targeted and need-based information, advice and counselling services for adults. The national development programme 2007–2013. Responsible organisation: Ministry of Employment and the Economy 1. NUOVE On-line educational advice and career counselling. 3A. Research and evaluation of advice and guidance services. 3B. Evaluation of the development programme. Responsible organisations: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Employment and the Economy 2. Counselling services for adults, to ensure the functioning labour market Sub-projects: Regional projects Training for teachers in adult education Training for counsellors, psychologists and advisers COORDINATION

ORGANISATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME STEERING GROUP 1. NUOVE 3A. RESEARCH AND QUALITY 3B. PROGRAMME EVALUATON 2. REGIONAL AND TRAINING PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME TEAM SUB STEERING GROUP COORDINATION PROJECT Representatives from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Education, State Provincial Offices, Trade Unions, Employer Organisation, other stakeholders

On-line educational advice and career counselling. The objective: provide easy-to-use on-line information, advice and counselling services for adult people utilising multiple channels. Need analysis of the on-line platform and other services. Development, production and piloting of the new platform and other services, training of the on-line advisors and psychologists. SUB PROGRAMME 1. NUOVE

SUB PROGRAMME 2. OPIN OVI Counselling services for adults, to ensure the functioning labour market. SUB PROJECTS  REGIONAL PROJECTS Objectives: to guarantee accessibility, availability and sufficiency of guidance and counselling services for all citizens, to develop cooperation and work in regional cross-sectoral networks.  TRAINING PROJECTS To develop teachers’ competences in adult education. To develop competences of advice an guidance professionals in educational and employment sector.

SUB PROGRAMME 3. RESEARCH AND EVALUATION 3A. Research and evaluation of advice and guidance services.  Survey of the current situation.  Strategic and operational development proposals.  National comprehensive quality criteria (quantitative and qualitative) for guidance provision.  Assessment tools and methods and feedback mechanisms. 3B. Evaluation of the development programme. This part includes both development research and evaluation of the whole development programme. The phases are: 1. Background and starting phase 2. Follow-up and interventions 3. Evaluation of the results and effectiveness of the development programme

Evaluation and research project The aims to develop national comprehensive quality criteria for advice and guidance services to produce assessment methods and tools and feedback mechanisms for the guidance provision The national policy and the framework developed for the quality assurance. Levels: international national regional context, networks and regional strategies organisational service processes, human and other resources, methods citizen and customer involvement assessment and feedback mechanisms

is available on the internet at -> in English -> Publications GUIDANCE IN FINLAND -booklet