The ELGPN launches “Guidelines for Policies and Systems Development for Lifelong Guidance: A Reference Framework for the EU and for the Commission”

Jyväskylä hosts the final Plenary Meeting of The European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) on 24-25 November 2015.  During the last nine years the Network has collected and analysed data on how countries equip citizens with the skills to manage their learning and careers and the transitions between and within education/training and work. The Network has produced tools for policy-makers and other stakeholders to review existing lifelong guidance provision within their country and to identify issues requiring attention and gaps that need to be addressed. The ELGPN tools have been translated to 24 languages.

During the final Plenary Meeting the Network launches the Guidelines for Policies and Systems Development for Lifelong Guidance as a reference framework for the EU and for the Commission across the education, training, employment and social fields in order to improve the career learning experience of EU citizens and strengthen the professionalism of career services and tools. There is evidence which suggests that coherent lifelong guidance systems increase the flexibility of the labour market, help to reduce skills mismatch and provide cost-benefits for both individuals and governments.

The ELGPN is a Member-State-driven network in receipt of EU financial support under the Erasmus+ Programme. The Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä has co-ordinated the Network activities since its beginning in Jyväskylä during the Finnish 2006 EU Presidency.  More information and the ELGPN publications are available at http://elgpn.eu