CareersNet

The network was created to collect comparable and reliable information on a European scale in the field of lifelong guidance and career development. The gathered information and analysis aim at identification of evidence gaps and solutions, beyond a snapshot of national guidance systems, providing access to harmonised, comparable evidence, based on transparent criteria:

• providing access to detailed information on relevant practices and promoting their transfer and adaptation;
• informing design and implementation of Cedefop guidance resources and tools;
• facilitating cross-national comparative analysis of national guidance systems and initiatives;
• supporting countries in national policy development.

CareersNet is primarily a research-based policy forum, which aims to generate new knowledge while offering members opportunities for peer learning and collegial exchange. The network also responds to Cedefop’s need to have access to stable contact points for providing insights on national developments and the national relevance of EU initiatives, independently of changes in national or European policy.

CareersNet provides the opportunity to produce insights on career development activities embedded in distinct policy fields, such as education, training, youth policies, validation of non-formal and informal learning, adult learning - including upskilling and re-skilling, and labour market policy.

CareersNet experts are tasked with technical responsibility in updating Cedefop’s EU+ Inventory on lifelong guidance systems and practices. The network plans to further develop country reviews using the inventory contents, in addition to a methodology for system assessment and evaluation. In April 2020, CareersNet members contributed content on how guidance services were adapting in the pandemic, published in the provisional Note on lifelong guidance and the COVID-19 pandemic: Responses from Cedefop’s CareersNet. The network will be involved in Cedefop’s update of the 2009 Cedefop publication Professionalising career guidance in line with developments during the last ten years and the evolving digitalisation context.

Besides its thematic research activities in lifelong guidance, Cedefop has established CareersNet to monitor policy developments and innovative practices in EU countries and in some EEA, EFTA, EU accession countries, which enriches the network. CareersNet provides input in the Agency’s cooperation with the European Commission, and several European and international organisations, such as Euroguidance, European Training Foundation (ETF), International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy (ICCDPP), International Labour Organization (ILO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UNESCO.