Against a turbulent policy background in which the profession of careers guidance is being reviewed and reformulated, this seminar series will provide a forum in which academics, policy makers and policy shapers, trainees and practitioners can contribute to the understanding, and solution, of crucial issues, as well as their inter-connections. In so doing, it will make a timely contribution to current policy formulation and debates about high quality services. The seminar series will contribute to and integrate knowledge in relation to three major policy agendas that all have careers guidance as a key strand. First is the Europe-wide lifelong learning agenda which aims to facilitate Europe’s development as a knowledge society through individuals’ engagement in learning and training (e.g. CEDEFOP, 2009; Commission of the European Communities, 2009). Second, is the social equity agenda, focusing on fair, inclusive and just processes and practices in the delivery of public services (e.g. Women and Work Commission, 2009; HM Government, 2009). Third, is the up-skilling agenda, which seeks to address key skill gaps in the workforce in order to increase global economic competitiveness and growth (e.g. HM Treasury, 2006; UKCES 2009).

The series is supported by funding from the ESRC and will comprise 6 one-day seminars, based at the University of West of Scotland; the University of Ulster; the University of Glamorgan; Nottingham Trent University; the University of East London and the University of Limerick. The seminars will be organised by the University of Warwick in partnership with Loughborough University.

Project website hosted by Cloudworks is available here.

Launch Seminar: UK policy and practice: comparing and contrasting delivery models

1 December 2010, University of East London

Presentations (powerpoint):

• Introduction by Jenny Bimrose, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick
• An all age careers service for England, Gerard McAlea, Quality, Support and Guidance Division, Department for Education
• A Community of learners: Lifelong Learning Accounts, Stephen North, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
• Preparing for Success. Delivery of an all-age Careers Strategy for Northern Ireland, Judith Shaw, Head of Careers Policy and Strategy, Department for Employment & Learning Northern Ireland
• Career information, advice and gudiance in Scotland. A framework for service redesign and improvement, Martin McDermott, Head of Information, Advice and Guidance Strategy Team, Lifelong Learning Directorate, The Scottish Government
• Moving from Learner Demand to Economic Demand, Owen Evans, Director - Skills, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning

Seminar 2: Professional associations & professionalism: Exploring the ‘Balkanisation’ of careers guidance, the role of the associations and their inter-relationships

31 March 2011, University of Glamorgan

• Introduction by Laurie Cohen, School of Business & Economics, Loughborough University
• How to be a good professional? Existentialist continuing professional development (CPD), Rachel Mulvey, Chair in career guidance, University of East London
• Value versus values? The challenge of ethical professionalism in times of austerity, Helen Colley, Professor of Lifelong Learning, Manchester Metropolitan University and Fellow of NICEC
• Can ‘caring’ occupations become professions? What might be lost and gained in the processes of professionalisation?, Sally Aldridge, Director of Regulatory Policy, British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy
• Panel Session: Perspectives on Professional Associations & Professionalism, Chaired by John Arnold, Loughborough University. Panel Members: Sarah Finnegan-Dehn, Chief Executive, Careers Wales North West, Vice President, Institute of Career Guidance; Danny Saunders, OBE, Head of Lifelong Learning and Further Education College Partners, University of Glamorgan; Deirdre Hughes, Careers Profession Alliance, Executive Group Member

Seminar 3: Professional identity formation: careers work and workers across a range of public and private sectors

9 June 2011, University of Limerick (click here for photographs of the event)

• Introduction by Jenny Bimrose, Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick and Mary O’Sullivan, Dean of Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick
• Contemporary perspectives on the process and outcome dimensions in the shaping of professional identity in post-primary and adult guidance work, Lucy Hearne and Tom Geary, University of Limerick
• The professional identity of the Guidance Counsellor within the Irish public education sector, Jennifer McKenzie, National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE)
• Twitter-type discussion on emerging issues, Laurie Cohen, Loughborough University and John Arnold, Sheffield University
• The new employability imperative and its impact on professional identities in Higher Education Careers work, Gill Frigerio, Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Warwick
• Career development work from the perspective of the HR professional working with mature career changers, Kenneth Buchholtz, Chartered FCIPD, Campbell International Human Resource Consultants, Ireland
• Open forum discussion facilitated by Deidre Hughes, DMH Associates and Professor Marie Parker-Jenkins, University of Limerick

Dr Lucy Hearne wrote a brief article on the seminar published in the NGCE news (2011, Issue 36).

Seminar 4: Digital technologies: exploring emerging and potential uses to deliver enhanced careers practice

29 November 2011, University of the West of Scotland (click here for photographs of the event)

• Introduction by John Arnold, Sheffield University and welcome by Paul Martin, Vice Principal and Executive Dean, University of the West of Scotland
• The perceived role of technology and social media in career guidance among practitioners who are experienced internet users: chances and challenges, Raimo Vuorinen and Jaana Kettunen, Finnish Institute for Educational Research University of Jyväskylä
• Career websites: expectations and limitations, Cathy Howieson and Shelia Semple, Centre for Educational Sociology, University of Edinburgh
• The achievement of partnership working, web-based technology and labour market information and intelligence: embedding the theory and practice of LMI into career guidance training, Janet Moffett, Lecturer in Career Guidance and Development, University of the West of Scotland
• LMI for careers practitioners - the Scottish approach, Mark Steell, Skills Development Scotland
• Skills & competencies required by career practitioners to develop internet-based practice, Jenny Bimrose & Sally-Anne Barnes, Warwick Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick
• Enhancing careers services thgouth better use of ICT, Martin McDermott, Head of More Choices, Mores Chances and Careers Team Youth Employability and Skills Division, The Scottish Government, with Rob Doyle presenting ‘My World of Work’
• Closing of seminar by Graham Allan, Lecturer in Career Guidance and Development, University of the West of Scotland

Article entitled Labour Market Information and Intelligence: Embedding LMI into Training and Practice for Careers Advice by Mike Danson (University of the West of Scotland) and Patrick Watt (Skills Development Scotland) is available. Please do not quote from this paper without the permission of the authors.

Seminar 5: Stakeholder perspectives: how employers, trades unions and human resource management professionals see the purpose and practice of careers support in work settings

29 March 2012, University of Ulster

• Introduction by Laurie Cohen, Loughborough University and Welcome by Professor Ronnie Wilson, Head of the School of Psychology, University of Ulster
• Engaging parents in the transition in and through work, Celine McStravick, Director National Children’s Bureau, Belfast
• Developing the workforce: panel session
  • Gordon Parkes, HR Director, NIE
  • Mervyn Langtry, Head of Skills Solutions Branch, Department for Employment & Learning
  • Sharon Doherty, Austins, Derry
  • Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE, Commissioner, UK Commission for Employment & Skills
• Developing people and organisations: a Trade Union perspective, Patricia McKeown, Regional Secretary for NI UNISON
• Employee well-being, mental health and careers guidance, Pete Robertson, Napier University, Edinburgh
• Reflections on the day, Dr Rob Millar, School of Psychology, University of Ulster

Project duration: 2010-2012

IER Project team:

Jenny Bimrose

Sally-Anne Barnes

Project partners:

Laurie Cohen

John Arnold, Sheffield University

Funder: