This one-day event, the first of a new collaborative series with the Career Development Institute (CDI), explored recent research on the evidence and impact of careers education and guidance in order to help promote the benefits of CIAEG.
After a welcome from Jan Ellis (Chief Executive, CDI) and Nick Chambers (CEO, Education and Employers) the day began with a presentation from Dr Elnaz Kashefpakdel (Head of Research, Education and Employers) and Jordan Rehill (Research Assistant, Education and Employers).
Elnaz T. Kashefpakdel (Head of Research, Education and Employers) and Jordan Rehill (Research Assistant, Education and Employers)
Drawing on insights from research over the past 5 years, this presentation sought to contextualise the need for employer engagement in education, as well as the demand for such events amongst pupils and teachers. Then, using wider literature and new evidence, identified key areas which successful employer led careers activities should focus on so the best outcomes can be achieved for the young people taking part.
All of the reports mentioned in this session are available on our free searchable on-line library of research and reports on careers and employer engagement https://www.educationandemployers.org/research-type/taskforce-publications/
Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE, Steve Stewart OBE (Executive Director of Careers England) and Nick Chambers then gave their views on the three things a careers professionals/leader/adviser should do to ensure investment in careers education and guidance. Each speaker reflected on how best to use research, evidence and government guidelines to encourage participation in careers provision.
The afternoon session was restarted by Professor Frans Meijers (Meijers Research & Advice and professor emeritus, The Hague University). His presentation gave insights into international perspective on careers leadership and the impacts it can have.
Professor Frans Meijers (Meijers Research & Advice, Professor Emeritus, The Hague University)
He began by outlining the dichotomy between the learning required in the 21st century and the very different learning process that what is traditionally done in education. Cultivating self-direction in our students means that they must in engage in meaning-oriented learning, while reproductive learning dominates in traditional education. Based on research findings from Dutch secondary and higher vocational education, Professor Meijers sketched out the dilemmas that teachers and career professionals face as a result of this
What determines career decision making? (A slide from Professor Meijers’ session)
These dilemmas occur in conversations between teachers and students (micro level), in conversations between teachers and on a school management (meso level), and in the relation between school and labour market (macro level).
The panel session saw Steve Stewart and Dr Deirdre Hughes joined by Brian Lightman (former General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders) to discuss the regional and national CIAEG practices in the UK, and how these can be examples can be used to inform other localities. Jobs, skills and growth are inextricably linked to careers work in England’s schools. Economists and educationalists have long recognised that careers work matters when it comes to the effective functioning of education and labour markets. But careers work is under serious pressure given the latest UK Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) estimates. At a local and regional level people are noticing the impact of cuts to their budgets. In some regions, new careers strategies are emerging focused on in young people, families and the local economy. Key findings and lessons learned in this session were presented from a practitioner, researcher and policy perspective.
Dr Deirdre Hughes, Steve Stewart and Brian Lightman (former General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders)
DH international CDI presentation
The day was closed with two parallel interactive workshops: Liane Hambly (Senior Lecturer in Guidance Studies, Coventry University) gave an interactive workshop on decision making and how recent developments in neuroscience can help practitioners understand and conceptualise career decision making. This was followed by a workshop delivered by Jan Ellis, she highlighted the three key ways to professionalise the delivery of CEIAG: recognising the need to develop own competence continuously; integrating current theory and research into practice and publicly advocating for the profession in the interest of clients.
Career Education and Guidance that Works Conference Workshop
Liane Hambly (Senior Lecturer in Guidance Studies, Coventry University)