Development and quality assurance of information, advice and guidance services.

Case Finland

Jyväskylä 5 June 2009IAEVG conference

11.15-12.45 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 2008-2009: 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 2007-2009• Reform of legislation for higher education• National qualification framework (EQF) in 2009 -> 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 FinlandThe 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 OFFICESVocational guidance and career planning

Educational and vocational information services

Employment exchange services

CENTRE FOR INTER-NATIONAL MOBILITY CIMOEuroguidance Finland

FINNISH GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING SYSTEM

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT ANDTHE ECONOMY

National development programme for guidance provision in basic education 1Background: Finnish National Board of Education managed a

development project for career guidance services in educational sector in 2003-2007.

• 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 workObjectives:- 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 adults2. Improving the accessibility of advisory and guidance services3. 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. NUOVEOn-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. NUOVE3A. RESEARCHAND QUALITY

3B. PROGRAMMEEVALUATON

DEVELOPMENTPROGRAMME

TEAM

COORDINATION PROJECT

2. REGIONALAND TRAINING

PROJECTS

SUB STEERING GROUP

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 PROJECTSObjectives: 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 PROJECTSTo 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 phase2. Follow-up and interventions3. 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 provisionThe 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

http://www.cimo.fi

-> in English -> Publications

GUIDANCE IN FINLAND -booklet