• English

Career Guidance in the Life Course - Structures and Services

Bernhard Jenschke, Karen Schober, Judith Frübing. Career Guidance in the Life Course. Structures and Services in Germany.  Nationales Forum Beratung in Bildung, Beruf und Beschäftigung (Hg.) W. Bertelsmann Verlag, Berlin,2011.
ISBN: 978-3-7639-2877-4
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 This brochure gives an overview over the basic structure of the German guidance system especially for our partners in the European Union and beyond. In general, the German system provides access to educational and career guidance services for all citizens at any stage of their lives – whether they are in education or training, employed, unemployed or looking for continuing education. The structure of guidance provision reflects the German education and employment system with its shared responsibilities between the Federation, the Länder and the municipalities. Hence, the provision of career guidance is traditionally based on the distinction between educational guidance  (Bildungsberatung) in the educational sector and vocational guidance  (Berufsberatung) in the vocational training and employment sector. Cooperation across the sectors is in this context crucial. Beginning with an introduction into the German educational system, the brochure follows the life course describing guidance provisions in schools, vocational education, higher education, and for employment, unemployment and continuing education. Additional sections deal with guidance for special target groups and guidance through the internet. With chapters on quality and professionalism in guidance and on European cooperation, the brochure also considers systemic issues of professional development. Social and economic changes remain a permanent challenge for further developing lifelong guidance in the context of lifelong learning needs.

Commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research