Developing career education and guidance

In 2019, Euroguidance Latvia continued implementation of guidance-related activities, as stipulated in the Euroguidance Latvia work programme 2018-20. These activities include: information exchange among 34 Euroguidance centres; individual e-consultations about education opportunities abroad; presentations about career guidance and mobility in various events; organisation of information and education events on career guidance and mobility issues, organisation of a conference for guidance practitioners; participation at education exhibitions to provide information about learning opportunities and learning mobility abroad.

The first National career awards competition in Latvia was initiated in 2019 by the Latvian Euroguidance centre, hosted by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA). The 2019 competition in Latvia was a pilot activity limited to the school and upper secondary VET sector. The award competition was targeted at individuals from general and vocational education institutions and other organisations whose professional activities were related to career guidance for learners and who, in 2018, had implemented career guidance activities or events or prepared information or methodological materials for work with learners.

In February 2020, a seminar, The main functions of career guidance teachers in the implementation of the improved curriculum and approach to it, was organised in collaboration with the representatives from the project School 2030.

In February 2020, before the COVID-19 restrictions, the planned national skills competition semi-finals took place, but the annual national Skills Latvia 2020 competition, planned for April 2020, was cancelled. Similarly, the European young professionals' competition EuroSkills 2020 (Graz, Austria), planned for September 2020, was first postponed to January 2021, and later it was rescheduled to September 2021. Some national sectoral skills competitions were organised in autumn 2020 and continue some preparatory work for the EuroSkills competitions. In October, the annual career days were organised online both nationally and locally. Information and methodological support have been provided to career guidance teachers and specialists by VIAA throughout the year.

In early spring of 2020, collaboration was started between the career guidance project and the project School 2030, within which the school curricula and approaches to teaching are improved nationally. During the 2020/21 school year, career education is gradually being incorporated into general school subjects, including those taught at VET schools. Career support events and activities were limited during 2020 due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

In June 2020, the ESF project Career support in general and vocational education schools was extended until 31 May 2022.

In 2021, career guidance activities at schools continued to be disrupted by COVID-19: learners mainly participated in online individual and group counselling sessions. Meetings with labour market representatives and school alumni also took place online; enterprises offered online tours. Parents were offered online lectures on supporting their children's career choices. The process of integrating career education into the school curriculum continued. Career guidance was expanded, offering consultations also to adults. In autumn 2021, National career week on the theme ICT for your career took place in Latvia. Mainly online events and activities for learners, their parents and adults took place within the career week.

School career counsellors had the opportunity to for professional development and self-reflection in supervision sessions, which were also organised online.

In August 2021, the ESF project Career support in general and vocational education schools was extended until 30 December 2022.

In 2022, 6 374 individual career consultations for students were carried out. 15 supervisions took place with the participation of 119 pedagogic career counsellors and 2-day / 8-hour online professional development courses 'Career development support steps for working with parents of students', in which 190 pedagogic career counsellors and career support specialists participated and received a certificate of professional development.

'Guidelines for the implementation of support for career guidance' were developed and 5 regional seminars on their use were held for representatives of cooperation partners.

The 10th annual Career Week was organised which was dedicated to getting to know and developing entrepreneurship during school. More than 110 thousand children and young people participated in Career Week.

To ensure the circulation of current industry information to the audience of specialists involved in career support, to introduce educational and career opportunities, cooperation with the Confederation of Latvian Employers, Councils of Industry Experts, and other cooperation partners, 8 'An hour in the industry' seminars were organised in different sectors of industry.

With the support of Euroguidance, career specialists were provided with up-to-date information on career guidance methods, tools, and approaches in 10 events. The cross-border methodical experience exchange seminar for career specialists 'CBS Riga 2022' was dedicated to the topic of 'Hope in the Age of Uncertainty'. The seminar was organised with the cooperation of ten partner countries. Materials were created in the Moodle environment: workshop descriptions, presentations, national reports on events dedicated to clients whose career decisions are affected by conditions of uncertainty. The content of the informal online course on career support for learning mobility jointly created by the Nordic and Baltic Euroguidance centres has also been improved and supplemented. The course provided an opportunity for career support specialists from the Nordic and Baltic countries to network. Two training cycles were implemented.

Following the conclusion of European funded project 'Career support in general and vocational education institutions', 350 school guidance counsellors continued to provide career guidance in general and vocational education institutions. In 2023 career guidance and counselling services were available in 22 out of 37 State or local government run vocational basic and secondary education institutions.

Vocational education institutions continued to provide career guidance services - career information, career education and counselling. Meetings with entrepreneurs, job master classes, discussions with graduates and industry representatives were organised. Career days have been held for prospective vocational school students as well as 'ambassador' activities in lower secondary general education schools organised. School guidance counsellors collected information on the future course of graduates. Counsellors upgraded their skills in professional competence development events organised by State Education Development Agency and the Euroguidance programme. In 2023, a hybrid peer learning event was organised specifically for VET school career counsellors on how to plan and organise recruitment, career education, and adult learner guidance.

The themes of the European year of skills were highlighted in career guidance in the course of 2023, for example, during the traditional national event Career Week the tool 'Your skills portfolio' allowed everyone to identify, evaluate and develop skills useful for their career and life.

The annual National career guidance conference also highlighted the importance of skills for supporting the future career of individuals in the context of lifelong learning, and for the development of the economy. Euroguidance Latvia developed a counselling tool in the form of a card deck aimed at identifying and understanding the importance of transversal skills, based on the ESCO database.

The national young professionals' competition Skills Latvia 2023 was held in April. It was organised as a centralised public event with the aim of raising the prestige of vocational education, promoting learners' self-confidence, employability and competitiveness in the transition to the labour market. 155 participants from 32 vocational education institutions competed in 19 skills competitions. As a part of the event skills demonstrations and trials were offered to the general public by VET schools, industry representatives and public services. International skills competition EuroSkills 2023 took place in Gdansk, Poland, where the Latvian team was represented by 9 young professionals in 8 skills contests.

In 2024, 370 school guidance counsellors continued to provide career guidance in general and vocational education institutions. Career guidance and counselling services were available in 21 out of 36 state or local government run vocational basic and secondary education institutions. 24 educators have obtained the qualification of school career counsellors, while 21 educators have obtained the certificate of individual career counselling.

Vocational education institutions continued to organise career guidance events - meetings with entrepreneurs, representatives of industries, job master classes, discussions with graduates. Vocational education opportunities were promoted and popularised among lower secondary general education students.

In 2024, the international peer learning event organised in Latvia in the context of the Euroguidance Academia network was devoted to career guidance at VET schools in diverse contexts, bringing together practitioners from Latvia, Ireland, Germany and Spain. Building on this experience, the new Euroguidance centre in Georgia received support from Euroguidance Latvia in the form of lectures for VET school managers and guidance service staff on approaches to career guidance in the VET sector.

In October, the traditional national Career Week took place. Under the umbrella theme 'Education and career for everyone' various events in educational institutions, cities and counties encouraged to learn about the challenges in building a career path for everyone (including students with special needs) and to find ways of overcoming these challenges.

Career practitioners had the opportunity to participate in professional competence development events organised by the State Education Development Agency and the Euroguidance programme. These included in-depth learning about industry sectors, work with students with special needs, use of digital tools in career counselling.

The national young professionals competition Skills Latvia 2024 was held in May 2024. 121 participants from 30 vocational education institutions and companies competed in 20 skills competitions. As a part of the public competition event skills demonstrations and trials were offered to the general public by VET schools, industry representatives and public services. International skills competition WorldSkills 2024 took place in Lyon, France, where the Latvia was represented by 6 young professionals in 6 skills contests.