Orientation to Career Guidance and Counselling in Developing Countries William Borgen Educational and Counselling Psychology & Special Education Faculty of Education University of British Columbia Bryan Hiebert Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies Faculty of Education University of Victoria 1 The Need for Career/Life Planning We guide our boys and girls to some extent through school, then drop them into this complex world to sink or swim as the case may be. Yet there is no part of life where the need for guidance is more emphatic than in the transition from school to work - the choice of a vocation, adequate preparation for it, and the attainment of efficiency and success. (Frank Parsons) 2 Traditional Assumptions There are a series of individual attributes or traits that draw people to certain occupations. These attributes or traits are pivotal to effective and desired decision-making. Occupations that match the vocational interest of individuals are accessible to them. Occupations are stable enough in their characteristics for assessment instruments that match the traits of individuals with occupational characteristics are useful over time. Once secured individuals have the capability to stay involved in desired occupations or career trajectories. 3 Counselling and Guidance Within a Context of Uncertainty Societal Context Family Personal Selfidentity Career 4 Societal Contexts Rapidly Changing Social, Cultural and Economic Realities •Poverty/Structural Unemployment •Violence •Migration •HIV/AIDS •The Education System •Globalization 5 Some International Examples Countries are looking for information and approaches that address the issues of individuals and also inform policies to serve the broader society (Kenya, Nigeria, Bhutan) The context in which people are making occupational, vocational and career decisions is evolving rapidly and unpredictably (India, Africa, Eastern Europe/Asia, Argentina, North America) Perceived status of occupations is a major issue 6 Revised Assumptions Several factors influence choice of occupations or career paths, including individual attributes or traits, family perspectives, rapidly evolving cultural influences such as poverty, addiction, conflict, displacement and discrimination, along with internationalization and rapid change in labour market opportunities. These factors are differentially important within and across cultural contexts. Occupations of choice may not be accessible. Many tasks and processes related to occupations are unstable. People need the skills and attitudes required to successfully manage rapid and unpredictable changes that characterize many occupations and career trajectories. Career Development is an emerging professional activity7 Services Related to Career Development Advice or Advising If I give general information regarding external requirements, I am doing vocational or career advising (Implies general information is sufficient for the issue presented) Guidance If I make a judgment about what information is being sought and provided it I am providing vocational or career guidance. (Implies tailored information is sufficient). Counselling If I explore the other person’s perspective, tentatively offer other perspective to be considered (including information based on the initial exploration) and jointly discuss possible action planning, I am providing vocational or career counselling. (Implies that a counselling process is needed to consider the utility of different insights, feelings, and information and the applicability of different possible actions regarding the issue.) 8 Constructs Central to Career Development Occupational Occupational refers to an activity that is focused on considering a particular job. Vocational Vocational refers to a focus on an individual’s talents, passions and interests in considering areas of work. Career Career refers to broader issues, such life development, work-adjustment, work-dysfunction, and integration of life roles with other life roles over time that may or may not be directly related to work. 9 A Proposed Research/Service Grid Advising Guidance Counselling Occupational Occupational Occupational Occupational Advising Guidance Counselling Vocational Career Vocational Advising Vocational Guidance Vocational Counselling Career Advising Career Guidance Career Counselling See: Hiebert, B., & Borgen, W. A. (Eds.), Technical and vocational education and training in the twenty-first century: New roles and challenges for guidance and counselling (pp. 13-26). Paris: UNESCO. 10 What students are telling us… 11 Older Adolescents in High School Problems Identified Schooling Identity and SelfConcept Family Employment See: Borgen, W. A., & Hiebert, B. (2006). Youth counselling and career guidance: What adolescents and young adults are telling us. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 28, 389-400 . 12 Coping Strategies of Adolescents Individual Problem Solving Disengagement – distancing, avoidance Resignation Giving Up 13 The Nature of Assistance Desired Who – Friends, Family, Professional Helpers Qualities – Good listeners, trustworthy and honest – Knowledge about the issues being discussed – Experience similar to theirs What – Counselling, knowledge, advice and information – Comfort and reassurance 14 The “High 5” (+1) A Changing Theme For Career Development 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Change is constant Focus on the journey Follow your heart Keep learning Access your allies + 6. Believe in yourself See: Redekopp, D. E., Day, B., & Robb, M. (1995). The "High Five" of career development. In B. Hiebert (Ed.). Exemplary career development programs and practices: The best from Canada. Greensboro, NC: ERIC/CASS . 15 The Challenge… Career opportunities are a result of planned and unplanned developmental and environmental events. Career decisions evolve over a life time. Career development services need to be differentiated and available across the lifespan. A new paradigm is needed to depict how people’s careers develop. 16 The Need… Academics and practitioners will need to consider the new philosophical underpinnings, theoretical foundations, knowledge base, and expanded skill sets needed to embrace the new paradigm. Career practitioners need a broader range of pre-service and in-service education that prepares them to offer advice, guidance and counselling for occupational, vocational and career related issues. 17 Guidance & Counseling Planner An alternative metaphor for career/life planning See: Westwood, M. W., Amundson, N. E. & Borgen, W. A. (1994). Starting points: Finding your route to employment. Ottawa: Human Resources & social development Canada. Borgen, W. A. (1999). Implementing ‘Starting Points’: A follow-up study. Journal of Employment Counseling, 36, 98 – 114. Borgen, W. A. (1995). Starting points: Finding your route to employment (B.C. Edition). Victoria/Ottawa: Asses sment, Counselling and Referral Initiative of MOEST and HRDC. 18 Professional Development: A Multi-Layered Approach Preparation for career practitioners Orientation workshop • Philosophical underpinnings • theoretical foundations • For all professionals Stakeholder involvement • Individual consultation • Group consultation In-depth training for key service providers • Guidance practitioners • Counsellors Training for trainers • For capacity building 19 Example from the Field 20 Career Guidance and Counselling Orientation Workshop: Implementing a Vision for Your Life 5-day interactive workshop • foundational career development theory • contemporary approaches for implementing career guidance programs in educational settings • Key resources available • knowledge and skill practice in appropriate instructional methods for career education Designed to help teachers and counsellors work more effectively with their school and college communities 21 Guidance & Counseling Planner Day 1: Context • Preparation, philosophy, theory Day 2: Taking Stock • Tools and resources Day 3: Providing services • Communication & collaboration Day 4: Building support • Policy makers, service providers, clients working together Day 5: Consolidation • Implementing, maintaining, sustaining 22 Orientation Workshop Plan Day 1: Context What is career development • Career-life planning • Vision for your life • Foundational theories Who are we serving • Labour market context • Voices of youth Learn about career-life planning by examining your own career path 23 Orientation Workshop Plan Day 2: Taking Stock Nature of services • Advising, Guidance, Counselling • Occupational, Vocational, Career • Meeting the whole person needs of students Nature of training • Skills needed • Resources available Tools and resources (for services + for training) Understanding my own career path • How will I incorporate this in my job 24 Orientation Workshop Plan Day 3: Providing services Communication and collaboration • Multiple skills for multiple roles • Constructs and skills for collaboration Basic group process • Group member roles and norms • Stages of group development Skill practice 25 Group Facilitation Model Member Needs & Roles Group Design Group Goals & Activities See: Borgen, W. A., Pollard, D. E., Amundson, N. E., & Westwood, M. J. (1989). Employment groups: The counselling connection (chapter 3). Toronto, ON: Lugus. 26 Orientation Workshop Plan Day 4: Building support Policy support • Infrastructure needed • Resources needed • Program planning and evaluation • Policy makers, service providers, clients working together Demonstrating the value of our work • Program planning and evaluation • Evaluation model • Tools for demonstrating value 27 Outcome Focused Evidence-Based Practice Quality Improvement Input Resources Process Counsellor • Skills • Interventions • Programs Outcome Client change • Knowledge • Skill • Attribute • impact See: Baudoin, R., et al.. (2007). Demonstrating value: A draft framework for evaluating the effectiveness of career development interventions. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 41, 146-157. CRWG web site: http://www.ccdf.ca/crwg 28 Outcome-Focused Evidence-Based Practice Input Process Outcome Intervention = Process + Outcome What will I do? + How is it working? Professional Practitioner 29 Orientation Workshop Plan Day 5: Consolidation, maintaining, & sustaining Making it happen • Pulling it all together • Action planning & follow up • Vision for your life • Foundational theories Workshop evaluation 30 Orientation Workshop Evaluation Regarding the Primary Objectives of this workshop, and knowing what you know now, how would you rate yourself before the workshop, and how would you rate yourself now? Before After Unacceptable Unacceptable Acceptable Acceptable 0 1 2 3 4 ave 0 1 2 3 4 ave 1 Clear understanding of basic career development theory 6 5 11 3 1 1.5 0 0 0 10 16 3.6 2 Knowledge about the factors that contribute to (or interfere with) people’s career development 4 10 6 5 1 1.6 0 0 1 6 19 3.6 7 11 3 4 1 1.3 0 0 2 6 18 3.6 4 Tools for demonstrating the value of careers guidance & counselling 8 5 4 5 1 1.4 0 0 1 5 17 3.3 Awareness of the importance of career-life planning in TVET 6 5 6 5 1 1.7 0 0 0 3 20 3.4 8 9 4 4 1 1.4 0 0 2 6 18 3.5 31 3 Knowledge regarding basic skills used in career-life planning 5 Repertoire of practical tools and 6 approaches for facilitating career development Evaluation Results 156 ratings (6 questions times 26 people): • • • • 84 (54%) ratings were unacceptable before the workshop 0 ratings were unacceptable after the workshop 6 (4%) ratings were excellent before the workshop 108 (69%) ratings were excellent after the workshop 32 Orientation Workshop Evaluation Generally Speaking, Unacceptable 1. how useful did you find the workshop? 2. how would you rate the workshop facilitation? 3. how would you rate the workshop facilities (room, etc.)? 4. how would you rate the food? Acceptable Ave 0 1 2 3 4 -- -- -- 1 25 4.0 -- -- -- 1 25 4.0 -- -- -- 18 5 3.0 -- -- -- 14 3 2.7 33 Orientation Workshop Evaluation For each component of the workshop listed below, please assess how useful that component was for you. Unacceptable Acceptable 0 1 2 3 4 Ave 1. General Model: Road Map -- -- 1 10 15 3.5 2. Exploring the Context -- -- 2 9 15 3.4 3. Factors Influencing Career Plans -- -- -- 8 18 3.7 4. Personal Career Line -- -- 1 12 13 3.5 5. Clarifying Roles (advising, guidance, counselling) -- -- -- 5 21 3.8 6. Assets and Resources -- -- 3 8 15 3.5 7. Skill Framework for service providers -- -- 2 6 18 3.6 8. Group process strategies -- -- -- 5 16 3.6 9. Skill Practice -- -- -- 9 17 3.7 10. Demonstrating value (evaluation) -- -- -- 8 16 3.7 11. Infrastructure -- -- 3 13 10 3.3 12. Action planning -- -- -- 7 19 3.7 34 Final Thoughts One major barrier expressed by participants • lack of infrastructure and resources • Many schools do not have a career resource centre Create the support you need • Lobby policy makers • Train your boss to give you the support you need Create a mechanism to support follow up action Create a capacity building mechanism • Training for trainers Lifelong learning & growth needs Lifelong guidance and counselling 35 Orientation to Career Guidance and Counselling in Developing Countries Questions or Comments? Thank you William Borgen borgen@interchange.ubc.ca Bryan Hiebert hiebert@ucalgary.ca 36