- 2016Implementation
- 2017Implementation
- 2018Implementation
- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Implementation
- 2022Implementation
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Description
In January 2016, the National Centre for Supporting Vocational and Continuing Education (KOWEZIU) launched the two-year ESF co-funded project 'effective educational and vocational guidance for children, adolescents and adults', aimed at creating an effective guidance system in education and training. In 2016, KOWEZIU was merged with the Centre for Education Development (ORE), which continued the implementation of this project. In 2017, testing of the newly developed educational and vocational guidance programmes took place. Within the project, completed in June 2018, a set of examples of vocational/career guidance programmes with scenario proposals for all education levels were developed, as well as model organisational solutions for intra-school guidance systems. During the project, 98 implementation events took place, in which 1 050 representatives of local government authorities, which govern schools, participated. The project also proposed recommendations for the Regulation on vocational guidance adopted in 2018.
Within the regional operational programmes, the regions have also launched calls for ESF co-funded projects to support schools in the development of guidance and counselling services for IVET learners. The scope of the calls includes, for example, external guidance and counselling services for schools; creating information and career points in school; supporting teachers in acquiring counsellor's qualifications; supporting counsellors in upgrading and updating their qualifications; and the development of diagnostic tools.
On 1 July 2017, the Centre for Education Development initiated the design of a programme to provide teacher trainers with training in educational and vocational guidance. The project 'preparation of trainers for the implementation of training in the field of educational and vocational counselling' was completed in June 2018. It developed a training programme for teacher trainers in the area of vocational/career guidance. Over 500 individuals also received training in 'providing training in vocational/career guidance'. The training programme and its implementation were evaluated.
As a result of the ministerial call for initiatives on developing e-resources for vocational counselling, one project was chosen in June 2018. The allocated budget was EUR 3.4 million (PLN 15 million). In line with the idea of lifelong vocational counselling, this ESF co-financed project is directed at different age groups, including young children. The target groups include specialists as well as non-specialists (pupils, parents, teachers). The main expected outcome of the project is the development, in cooperation with stakeholders, of sets of materials (including multimedia) for vocational counselling in 115 occupations, as well as a platform conception for employers and VET schools. The project was finished in September 2020.
The implementation of the project on developing e-resources for vocational counselling continued as planned.
In 2020, the final phase of the project on developing e-resources for vocational counselling took place. Eight meetings (focus groups) were held with vocational counsellors and teachers who assessed and approved materials developed in the project (including films, quizzes, virtual reality modules). The developed materials were made available on a web platform.
EFS projects promoting vocational guidance continue to be implemented (e.g. the project: developing the competences of the teaching staff in the field of educational and vocational counselling).
The Ministry of Education launched a new portal, a source of information about professions and vocational education. The portal has been updated with materials developed in the project.
EFS projects promoting vocational guidance, such as developing the competences of teaching staff in educational and vocational counselling, continued to be implemented. In total, 115 materials were created and published on the integrated learning platform.
The portal was updated with new components.
The portal was updated with news on legal changes in vocational education and counselling, conferences, trainings and publications.
The portal was updated with news on legal changes in vocational education and counselling, conferences, trainings and publications.
The Centre for the Development of Education also embarked on a project to improve the infozawodowe.men.gov.pl portal, which supports the development and promotion of vocational education, including cooperation between employers and schools, and career counselling for different age groups - audiences at all levels of education. This project started on 1 November 2023, to run until 30 September 2027.
The https://doradztwo.ore.edu.pl/ website was actively managed throughout 2024 to provide resources and support for career guidance. The Educational Development Centre (ORE) produced the report 'Training needs of the modern career guidance in contemporary schools', addressing current challenges and opportunities in the field. Key events included several webinars, workshops, and a conference. These activities underlined ORE's commitment to advancing career guidance through training, innovative resources, and professional development.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
- Ministry of Education and Science (from 2021 until 2024)
- Ministry of National Education
- Centre for Education Development
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Trainers
- Guidance practitioners
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
Thematic categories
Teachers, trainers and school leaders competences
Competent and motivated VET teachers in schools and trainers in companies are crucial to VET becoming innovative and relevant, agile, resilient, flexible, inclusive and lifelong.
This thematic category comprises policies and practices of initial training and continuing professional development approaches in a systemic and systematic manner. It also looks at measures aiming to update (entry) requirements and make teaching and training careers attractive and bring more young and talented individuals and business professionals into teaching and training. Supporting VET educators by equipping them with adequate competences, skills and tools for the green transition and digital teaching and learning are addressed in separate thematic sub-categories.
The measures in this category target teachers and school leaders, company trainers and mentors, adult educators and guidance practitioners.
This thematic sub-category refers to all kinds of initial and continuing professional development (CPD) for VET educators who work in vocational schools and in companies providing VET. VET educators include teachers and school leaders, trainers and company managers involved in VET, as well as adult educators and guidance practitioners – those who work in school- and work-based settings. The thematic sub-category includes national strategies, training programmes or individual courses to address the learning needs of VET educators and to develop their vocational (technical) skills, and pedagogical (teaching) skills and competences. Such programmes concern state-of-the-art vocational pedagogy, innovative teaching methods, and competences needed to address evolving teaching environments, e.g. teaching in multicultural settings, working with learners at risk of early leaving, etc.
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 initiatives that promote VET and lifelong learning implemented at any level and by any stakeholder. It also covers measures to ensure and broaden access to information about VET to various target groups, including targeted information and promotional campaigns (e.g. for parents, adult learners, vulnerable groups). Among others, it includes national skill competitions and fairs organised to attract learners to VET.
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.
European priorities in VET
VET Recommendation
- VET as an attractive choice based on modern and digitalised provision of training and skills
Osnabrück Declaration
- Establishing a new lifelong learning culture - relevance of continuing VET and digitalisation
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Supporting vocational guidance: Poland. 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/28487