Ninth CareersNet meeting - Changing expectations for lifelong guidance

TThe last two network meetings gathered network core experts in person at venues in Sweden (2023) and Finland (2024) in connection with conference opportunities for members. This year the meeting and workshop is hosted online to accommodate core and alternate members, outgoing and new incoming members.

On Day 1 the meeting activities included:

• discussing network management and renewal of the network membership including orientation of new experts and showing appreciation for outgoing members.
• sharing information on the efforts members and their national reference groups have made on the online Inventory of lifelong guidance systems and practices, such as recently uploaded records since 2022 and those in progress.
• reviewing and discussing the network’s cooperation activities and in the guidance strand since the last meeting in 2024, including the renewed lifelong guidance framework and guidelines at the heart.
• plan and exchange views on ongoing and future activity, such as the next Inventory update and uses for the content, launch of the Call for papers on quality and effectiveness amid changing expectations, and future events diving into challenges and opportunities for integrating lifelong guidance across diverse policy contexts.

The last session was dedicated to sharing the draft final concept note on the Call for papers on quality and effectiveness in lifelong guidance, which builds on previous work at Cedefop. This time the Call will consider the multifaceted and changing expectations surrounding lifelong guidance in the EU and beyond, and how this interacts with - and if this has an impact on - how quality and effectiveness are approached. Members are encouraged to submit proposals (co-authoring is encouraged) and there will be a review process.

The meeting closed with a look ahead at Day 2 of the CareersNet meeting in January, which will include more opportunities for interaction, member thematic inputs, and groupwork facilitated by members. Problematics for policy surrounding career information and new technologies (use of and learning about labour market information, skills intelligence and career guidance) will be one focus, including the role of stakeholder collaboration. Members will assess the need for a future activity as one aim of the day. Please see the separate event page.

Participation at the meetings is restricted. Members receive information, a link to register and join the meeting, and the draft agendas, separately, for the two meetings/workshops held on Day 1 (11 December 2025) and Day 2 (29 January 2026), accordingly.