PUBLIC POLICIES FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN OF CAREER INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE SYSTEMS IN MIDDLE INCOME AND TRANSITION ECONOMIIES

What are career guidance services, are they important?

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Purpose:

assist individuals make informed choices

Rationale:

economic, social and political

International context:

OECD, EU, UNESCO,Bank

Middle income country issues:

poverty and unemployment, informal economy, family & culture

Policy goals:

learning, labor market, social equity

Approaches:

reactive vs. proactive

Evaluation

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Organization of the World Bank Study Design:

parallels OECD and EU studies

Seven Countries:

Chile, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Turkey

Objectives:

describe policies and identify issues, help countries and development agencies develop appropriate policies

Financing:

US$125,000 - DFID & World Bank

Administration:

Europe and Central Asia Human Development Sector, World Bank, with host country Ministries (labor and education)

Taking stock, who are the major actors?

• Role of Education and Labor Institutions • Schools (compulsory education) • Tertiary education • Public Employment Services • Employer Based Services • Private and non-government agencies

Changing the mold, what are the issues?

Strengths Weaknesses

• Services in schools, • Marginalisation in schools less so in tertiary • Emphasis on one to one services and • Emerging services in psychometric testing approaches public employment services • Innovative practices in • Little career exploration at work • PES focus on jobs vs. careers some countries • Limited career and educational information • Lack of career development services in enterprises

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Changing the mold, what needs to be done?

Expand access:

ICT, help lines, expand locations

Self-help:

Career education, self assessment, group methods, physical

Concepts:

Talent match / career management

Information:

gaps, demarcations, integration, follow-up, quality assurance

Personnel:

broaden & define competencies, role definition, updating, associations

A framework for enhancing policy development and service delivery Policy coordination Strategic leadership Legislation Financing Building an evidence base Assuring quality International support

What are the key messages and

• • • • •

conclusions?

Action:

developing countries are making investments in this sector

Coherence:

there needs to be a coherent system to maximize return to investment and impact

Governments:

can play a key role, but should not be sole providers.

Priorities:

information, self-help services, staff training, incentives for private & NGOs.

Evidence base:

demand, cost, impact

THANK YOU

FOR MORE INFORMATION

http://www1 .worldbank.org/education/lifelong_learning/