ReportCompetence Framework_DEF_19.06.2018

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. [Project Number: 2017-1-SK01-KA204-035385] Specifically, the objectives of the Career Counselling and Educational Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture in Cyprus are the following: • “Develop positive self-esteem, self-approval and self-confidence. • Identify their abilities, interests and skills. • Use their unique capabilities and aptitudes to achieve self-awareness. • Acquire the right skills to deal effectively with personal, family and/or social issues in life. • Adjust to the school environment in order to progress both educationally and socially. • Develop critical thinking. • Develop the necessary skills that will allow use of appropriate information effectively and make well informed decisions concerning educational, vocational and personal choices. • Learn about the nature and demands of various vocations as well as the current social, economic and cultural developments so that correct educational choices are made“(MOEC, n.d.). 2.2.3. UNITED KINGDOM “Career guidance refers to services intended to assist people, of any age and at any point throughout their lives to make educational, training and occupational choices and to manage their careers. “Career guidance helps people to reflect on their ambitions, interests, qualifications and abilities. It helps them to understand the labour market and education systems, and to relate this to what they know about themselves. Comprehensive career guidance tries to teach people to plan and make decisions about work and learning. Career guidance makes information about the labour market and about educational opportunities more accessible by organising it, systematising it, and making it available when and where people need it. “One-to-one interviews and psychological testing for many years were seen as its central tools. [Nowadays] in most countries career guidance is now provided by people with a very wide range of training and qualifications [...]. “Training programmes are still heavily based upon developing skills in providing help in one- to-one interviews. On the other hand, psychological testing now receives a reduced emphasis in many countries as counselling theories have moved from an emphasis upon the practitioner as expert to seeing practitioners as facilitators of individual choice and development. While personal interviews are still the dominant tool, career guidance includes a wide range of other services: • group discussions; • printed and electronic information; • school lessons; • structured experience; • telephone advice; • on-line help.