- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Implementation
- 2022Implementation
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Background
The Youth Board of Cyprus has created its career guidance service, responding to the need of young people for expert guidance in their educational and professional life, and also the need for subsequent guidance for young professionals.
Objectives
To offer, via its four pillars of action, to young people of different ages and different needs, guidance and personal development opportunities.
Description
The four pillars of action of the service are:
Personalised guidance from career counsellors and expert career guidance: each young person can arrange a personal appointment with a counsellor so that he/she can receive personalised counselling. Appointments are carried out at all youth information centres in all five districts in Cyprus;
Skills testing
This is an important tool that can lead young people to self-knowledge and guide them to the most appropriate choice of field of study and career direction. Lower and upper secondary students (EQF/CyQF 2-4) can take the test for free and have their results analysed by the counsellors. The tests, which are used by the Youth Board's career counsellors, are based on advanced psychometric methodologies and mathematical models with the aim of analysing the personality of an individual using an advanced expert system based on research work funded by the European Union and governmental bodies. The knowledge base supports decision-making related to vocational and career counselling, retrieving specialisations - professions that match with the personality of the individual -from a database of over 2 000 entries;
Organising soft skills development and cultivation workshops for young people who are looking for a job (including NEETs) and for those who are already working
The workshops are held nationwide at the youth information centres of the Youth Board of Cyprus. They focus on developing...
The four pillars of action of the service are:
Personalised guidance from career counsellors and expert career guidance: each young person can arrange a personal appointment with a counsellor so that he/she can receive personalised counselling. Appointments are carried out at all youth information centres in all five districts in Cyprus;
Skills testing
This is an important tool that can lead young people to self-knowledge and guide them to the most appropriate choice of field of study and career direction. Lower and upper secondary students (EQF/CyQF 2-4) can take the test for free and have their results analysed by the counsellors. The tests, which are used by the Youth Board's career counsellors, are based on advanced psychometric methodologies and mathematical models with the aim of analysing the personality of an individual using an advanced expert system based on research work funded by the European Union and governmental bodies. The knowledge base supports decision-making related to vocational and career counselling, retrieving specialisations - professions that match with the personality of the individual -from a database of over 2 000 entries;
Organising soft skills development and cultivation workshops for young people who are looking for a job (including NEETs) and for those who are already working
The workshops are held nationwide at the youth information centres of the Youth Board of Cyprus. They focus on developing job market navigation skills (preparing a CV, preparing for a job interview, good job search practices) and on giving young professionals the opportunity to develop the necessary skills that will help them in their professional development, such as through different ways of perceiving their career, self-esteem and self-knowledge and developing the skills and abilities of the professional of the 21st century);
Career academies
During the two-day career academies organised by the Youth Board of Cyprus, participants are given the opportunity to attend lectures and participate in experiential workshops by leading speakers on topics such as career choice, job search, the development of a new professional, as well as more specialised topics such as financial programmes and professional skills development. Young professionals and entrepreneurs also give motivational talks to support other young people in their future professional and entrepreneurial endeavours.
The Youth Board of Cyprus continued the offer of career guidance services but more systematically under the four pillars described.
The Youth Board of Cyprus continued the offer of career guidance services under the four pillars described.
The Youth Board of Cyprus continued the offer of career guidance services under the four pillars described.
Career guidance services were operational and ran as regular practice.
Career guidance services were operational and ran as regular practice.
Career Guidance Counselors provide specialised information and counseling on career orientation and career management for young people aged 14 to 35 at the Multifunctional Centers of the Youth Board of Cyprus in all cities. Through individual counseling sessions, counselors help young people understand their personal characteristics and choose the educational or career paths that match their qualifications, values, and interests. In 2024, a total of 1 430 personalised counseling sessions were conducted, covering topics such as education, studies, job interviews, CV preparation, and more. Most sessions took place in person, while a small number were held online.
Career Testing and Results Analysis: this is an essential tool that can lead young people to self-awareness and guide them toward the most suitable choice of study field and career direction. Middle school and high school students can take the test free of charge, after which the results are analysed by the counselors. Through this test, young people gain deeper self-awareness and may discover hidden talents, abilities, and skills that can help them make the best career decisions. In 2024, a total of 340 'Ariston' and 'Ariadne' tests were conducted for middle and high school students.
Professional Skills Development Workshops: another key pillar of the service is the organisation of workshops aimed at developing soft skills for both job seekers and young professionals. These workshops are held nationwide at the Multifunctional Centers of the Youth Board of Cyprus. The focus is on job market navigation skills, such as CV writing, job interview preparation, and job search best practices. At the same time, the workshops provide young professionals with the opportunity to develop essential skills for career advancement. In 2024, multiple workshops were organised in all cities of Cyprus to support young people in making informed career and professional development decisions.
Bodies responsible
- Youth Board of Cyprus
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Young people (15-29 years old)
- Young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs)
- Unemployed and jobseekers
- Persons in employment, including those at risk of unemployment
Thematic categories
Supporting lifelong learning culture and increasing participation
Lifelong learning refers to all learning (formal, non-formal or informal) taking place at all stages in life and resulting in an improvement or update in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes or in participation in society from a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-related perspective (Erasmus+, Glossary of terms, https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-d/glossary-common-terms). A systemic approach to CVET is crucial to ensure adaptability to evolving demands.
This broad thematic category looks at ways of creating opportunities and ensuring access to re-skilling and upskilling pathways, allowing individuals to progress smoothly in their learning throughout their lives with better permeability between general and vocational education and training, and better integration and compatibility between initial and continuing VET and with higher education. Individuals should be supported in acquiring and updating their skills and competences and navigating easily through education and training systems. Strategies and campaigns that promote VET and LLL as an attractive and high-quality pathway, providing quality lifelong guidance and tailored support to design learning and career paths, and various incentives (financial and non-financial) to attract and support participation in VET and LLL fall into this thematic category as well.
This thematic category also includes many initiatives on making VET inclusive and ensuring equal education and training opportunities for various groups of learners, regardless of their personal and economic background and place of residence – especially those at risk of disadvantage or exclusion, such as persons with disabilities, the low-skilled and low-qualified, minorities, migrants, refugees and others.
This thematic sub-category refers to providing high-quality lifelong learning and career guidance services, including making full use of Europass and other digital services and resources.
This thematic sub-category refers to making VET pathways and programmes inclusive and accessible for all. It concerns measures and targeted actions to increase access and participation in VET and lifelong learning for learners from all vulnerable groups, and to support their school/training-to-work transitions. It includes measures to prevent early leaving from education and training. The thematic sub-category covers measures promoting gender balance in traditionally ‘male’ and ‘female’ professions and addressing gender-related and other stereotypes. The vulnerable groups are, but not limited to: persons with disabilities; the low-qualified/-skilled; minorities; persons of migrant background, including refugees; people with fewer opportunities due to their geographical location and/or their socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances.
European priorities in VET
Osnabrück Declaration
- Establishing a new lifelong learning culture - relevance of continuing VET and digitalisation
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Career guidance services: Cyprus. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/35460