Building Stronger VET Systems with Career Guidance at the Core
Career guidance is a vital pillar in suporting individuals navigate education and employment transitions—especially within Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems. As highlighted in the Skills2Capabilities project, all seven countries studied—Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and the UK—have taken steps to embed career guidance within their national VET frameworks.
Here’s how they’re doing it:
Legal Entitlement
Each of the countries examined has legislation that ensures individuals have access to career guidance within VET. This legal foundation guarantees that guidance isn’t optional or peripheral—it’s a right.
Integrated Frameworks
Career guidance is not treated as a separate service. Instead, it is woven into the structure of national VET systems, supporting young people and adults alike in making informed education and career decisions.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Collaboration across ministries, public bodies, and education providers is a recurringly considered as a strength. These partnerships ensure that guidance services are consistent, relevant, and aligned with needs.
Why It Matters
Embedding career guidance in VET systems helps reduce dropouts, supports smoother transitions to work, and promotes lifelong learning. As labor markets shift and skills demands evolve, having a strong, integrated approach to guidance becomes even more important.
The Skills2Capabilities project continues to explore how countries can develop more resilient and adaptive skills systems.
Read the full working paper:
