National Lifelong Career Development Strategies: Some Parting Reflections Tony Watts

National Lifelong Career National Lifelong Career Development Strategies: Development Strategies: Some Parting ReflectionsSome Parting Reflections

Tony WattsTony Watts

OECD Mega-SynthesisOECD Mega-Synthesis Importance of viewing national career Importance of viewing national career

development services as a systemdevelopment services as a system Though they are usually different sub-Though they are usually different sub-

systems within other systems (schools, systems within other systems (schools, PES, etc.)PES, etc.)

From viewpoint of individual, should be as From viewpoint of individual, should be as seamless as possibleseamless as possible

Hence importance of national lifelong Hence importance of national lifelong career development strategiescareer development strategies

EU DevelopmentsEU Developments Resolutions: 2004; 2008Resolutions: 2004; 2008 ELGPNELGPN

4 themes:4 themes: - CMS- CMS - Access- Access - Quality; evidence- Quality; evidence - Co-ordination- Co-ordination

Thematic RationaleThematic Rationale Process: Process: Co-ordinationCo-ordination Provision:Provision: Access; Quality Access; Quality Outcomes:Outcomes: CMS CMS Measurement:Measurement: Evidence Evidence

Global DevelopmentsGlobal Developments International symposia on career International symposia on career

development and public policy (next development and public policy (next one: USA, June 2015)one: USA, June 2015)

International Centre for Career International Centre for Career Development and Public PolicyDevelopment and Public Policy

National Career Development National Career Development Strategies: Current ExamplesStrategies: Current Examples

South AfricaSouth Africa Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

Not EasyNot Easy Career development is, of its nature, Career development is, of its nature,

structurally marginalstructurally marginal Most policies focus on structuresMost policies focus on structures Career development: movement of Career development: movement of

individuals across as well as within individuals across as well as within structuresstructures

Lubricant of systems: crucial to their Lubricant of systems: crucial to their effectivenesseffectiveness

But only if individual is at centre does it But only if individual is at centre does it move centre-stagemove centre-stage

ModelsModels Integrated:Integrated: all-age careers service, all-age careers service,

working in partnership with other working in partnership with other providersproviders

Co-ordinated:Co-ordinated: national forum; common national forum; common instruments/processes (CMS Blueprint; instruments/processes (CMS Blueprint; quality standards – professional, service, quality standards – professional, service, organisational)organisational)

Strongly co-ordinated:Strongly co-ordinated: also integrated also integrated approach to technology and/or common approach to technology and/or common brandingbranding

International Sharing and International Sharing and ReflectionReflection

ELGPNELGPN ICCDPPICCDPP

Both in transitionBoth in transition But opportunities must be sustainedBut opportunities must be sustained

ReferencesReferences Watts, A.G. (2010). National all-age career guidance services: Watts, A.G. (2010). National all-age career guidance services:

evidence and issues. evidence and issues. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 38(1): 38(1): 31-44.31-44.

Watts, A.G. (2010). Policy issues relating to the use of ICT in Watts, A.G. (2010). Policy issues relating to the use of ICT in lifelong career guidance. lifelong career guidance. Career Research and Development (The Career Research and Development (The NICEC Journal), 25: NICEC Journal), 25: 33-39.33-39.

Watts, A.G. (2014). Watts, A.G. (2014). Towards a Strategy for Career Development in Towards a Strategy for Career Development in South Africa: Progress and Challenges. South Africa: Progress and Challenges. 1212thth Chairperson Chairperson’’s Lecture. s Lecture. Waterkloof: South African Qualifications Authority.Waterkloof: South African Qualifications Authority.

Watts, A.G. & Sultana, R.G. (2004). Career guidance policies in 37 Watts, A.G. & Sultana, R.G. (2004). Career guidance policies in 37 countries: contrasts and common themes. countries: contrasts and common themes. International Journal for International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 4(2-3): Educational and Vocational Guidance, 4(2-3): 105-122.105-122.

Watts, A.G., Bezanson, L. & McCarthy, J. (2014). The international Watts, A.G., Bezanson, L. & McCarthy, J. (2014). The international symposia on career development and public policy: retrospect and symposia on career development and public policy: retrospect and prospect. prospect. Australian Journal of Career Development, 23(3Australian Journal of Career Development, 23(3)):: 108- 108-118.118.

Thank YouThank You tony.watts@zen.co.uktony.watts@zen.co.uk