Embedded vocational orientation in school curricula

In recent years, surveys in BE-DE have highlighted a lack of support and information for learners when it comes to vocational orientation, even more so as it was provided unsystematically. The Minister for Work and the Minister for Education cooperated and developed a new framework plan to make vocational guidance compulsory in the educational pathway. The public employment and training service ADG (Arbeitsamt der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft) assumes the coordinating role for all schools, including primary schools.

A collaborative and innovative approach

In spring 2021, a think tank bringing together representatives from all relevant institutions, such as the ADG, school networks, Jugendinfo, social partners, and the departments of the ministries involved were tasked with monitoring the implementation of five key areas: 

• accompanied self-reflection;
• career and company exploration;
• observation and internship;
• student portfolio;
• development of an in-school concept to promote student skills in the area of career orientation.

This collaborative and innovative approach resulted in September 2023 in the adoption by the Parliament of the German-speaking Community of a framework, which sets activities organised by the school for all levels. The implementation of the framework began with the 2023/24 school year and is being fully enforced during the 2024/25 school year.

From career exploration to internships

The new official pathway starts in primary school and accompanies learners until the end of secondary school with insights such as:

• career exploration – in the fifth and sixth year of primary school (11-12 years old), learners discover during 1 day in class the activities linked to a profession or professional field; 
• observation – in the second year of secondary school (13-14 years old), individual learners immerse themselves in a 1-day in-company experience: they take part in everyday working life, they observe and carry out age-appropriate activities;
• company exploration – in the third year of secondary education (14-15 years old), classes can spend 1 whole day learning about operational and work processes visiting different company departments;
• internship – in the fourth year of secondary school (15-16 years old), an internship of at least 3 days is included in the programme: learners observe, receive explanations and carry out small tasks independently and with supervision. The objective is to give them a realistic insight into the working life.

Learners are also required to document the development of their vocational orientation in a digital portfolio, and make their talents, interests and professional experiences visible and comprehensible for self-reflection. The use of Europass is encouraged.

Berufsroute platform

Contacts between the world of work and the schools are made on a central platform, Berufsroute.be, run by the ADG for learners and their parents, teachers and entrepreneurs. It provides a wide range of instruments for didactic and pedagogical preparation and follow-up, as well as for the development and follow-up of content on career-oriented topics. 

The first results show that in 2023, the vocational guidance staff at the ADG participated in 156 events (workshops, information sessions, etc.) in schools, reaching nearly 3 200 students, which is significantly more than in the past.