1. The adult guidance model coordinated by the ETSC in IcelandFinal conference on the Adult Learning Action Plan Budapest, March 8th, 2011 Fjóla María Lárusdóttir The Education and Training Service Centre

2. The ETSC • Established by The Icelandic Federation of Labour and the Confederation of Icelandic Employers in 2002. • In May 2010 the ordinance and membership of the organisation was changed to also include: • The Federation of State and Municipal Employees • The Association of Local Authorities in Iceland • The Ministry of Finance • Now covers the whole labour market • Target group: People on the labour market who have not completed education on Upper Secondary level • About 1/3 of people on the labour market

3. Contract with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture • To develop, increase and improve Educational and Training offers for the target group. Accredited on Upper Secondary Level. • To develop career guidance for the target group. Has proven to be important for the validation of prior learning. • To assist The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture in building up a validation system for non-formal and informal education and training and work experience. • To give service to the Education Fund that allocates money to LLL centers for accredited courses, guidance and accreditation of non-formal and informal learning.

4. How to reach the target group? Back to year 2000 • Trade unions designed and offered courses for their members based on needs analyses, but take-up was very little. • Advertised at meetings • Advertised in the trade union magazine • Target group difficult to approach • A need for new methods • Leonardo project was developed focusing on identifying ways to reach out

5. Career counselling in the workplace • Originated from a LdV project: Workplace Guidance • Icelandic promoter: Starfsafl – educational fund • Experts: Dr. Peter Plant, Denmark and Dr. Pamela Clayton, Scotland • Icelandic pilot project 2003-2005 • Results of the project led to funding of the services in 2006 • Service providers:LLL centers established by various stakeholders in each region

6. Pilot method (Tested and developed by the ETSC and Mímir-lifelong learning centre) • Career Counsellors contact companies to organize a meeting with the target group • Trade unions, Educational funds • Introduction of LLL and LL-guidance, competence development, possibilities and funding • Formal, informal approach, assistance from union representatives • Offer individual interviews - 1st interview organized in the company if possible • Appr. 1/3 of people at the meeting came to an interview

7. Who are the players? LLL center LLL center LLL center LLL center LLL center LLL center 24 career counsellors Lifelong learning centres Mímir-símenntun Centers of the manual trades LLL center LLL center LLL center LLL center

8. Main goal of career counselling for adults on the labour market

9. A new method – a challenging task • Cooperation with various stakeholders • Marketing the services in companies • Formal versus informal ways of approaching the user of the service • Obtaining the attention of workers • “Selling” the idea of lifelong learning • Keeping track of data • Sharing and developing

10. Cooperation with the Directorate of Labour • Economic crises in October 2008 • Contract with the Directorate of Labour in November 2009 • Guidance network of the ETSC to assist unemployed in the target group

11. Guidance in RPL • The Icelandic validation model includes extensive guidance • Information session • Screening interview • Portfolio and self-assessment • Support in assessment interviews • Final interview and follow up • All guidance activities funded through the ETSC

12. Age Gender

13. Position on the labour market

15. Type of guidanceNordic Research, 2010-2011 (Voice of users, NVL)

16. About the guidance • „I would propably have gone a whole different pathway in my career if there had been access to guidance in my younger years.” • „Precious support.“ • „I did not know what it was about – two years ago I would have thought that a counsellor would just tell you what to do, which would not be interesting to me.“ • „You get to know what you are able to do.“ • „I have learnt to know and to describe my abilities.“ • „It is good to have a support person for my studies.“

17. Main focus of the cooperation for 2011 • Guidance for the unemployed -cooperation • Needs of the target group for educational offers • Voice of users – research results used • The role of the guidance counsellors in the validation process (RPL) – cont. development • Guidance in rural areas – NVL report • Quality standards developed • Content and quality of the services • Cost effectiveness