Minister Bruton conducts review of Career Guidance
- Foilsithe: 22 Eanáir 2018
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 2 Deireadh Fómhair 2019
The Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, today announced a review of career guidance in post-primary schools, further education and training centres and higher education institutions.
The purpose of the review is to ensure that we are providing a high quality, relevant career guidance support service to all students from post –primary level up to further and higher education.
The review will look at the quality of information available to students in relation to career guidance, the sources of this information and how the system is organised to support students in this area. Over the course of the past two Budgets, the government have restored 500 guidance posts. However, supporting the next generation to make good career choices also involves the wider community – our higher education institutions, employers and public service providers. We are fortunate our children have excellent role models, access to exciting emerging sectors and opportunities such as transition year work experience. This review will ensure that the broader community is providing high quality career guidance support to the next generation.
Today’s announcement is a key action in the Minister's Action Plan for Education, which aims to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe within a decade. High quality career guidance tools and career guidance information is essential if people are to make informed career choices and plan pathways through the education and training system that will create the best opportunities for them to fulfil their career ambitions.
Launching the review, the Minister said:
“If we want to be the best in Europe, we need to provide a career guidance service that provides people across the system with access to high quality career guidance tools and career guidance information."
“As Minister, I want to ensure that there are many pathways for people to achieve their ambitions through our education and training system and relevant, comprehensive career guidance is important to guiding people through these pathways. I look forward to seeing the outcomes from this review, which is a priority if we are to make further progress in addressing the skills needs of individuals, enterprise and the economy.”
The review will be guided by an expert steering group chaired by Professor Tom Collins, current chair of Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) and Technological Higher Education Association (THEA).
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
The Department of Education and Skills is seeking consultants to undertake a Career Guidance Review that would include recommendations on changes to improve the existing career guidance tools and career information for post-primary/further education/higher education students and adults, currently in place across the education and training system in Ireland.
A Supplementary Request for Tenders (SRFT) will issue in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the OGP’s Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for the Provision of All of Government Business and Management Consulting and Advisory Services RFT98981 – PAS007F.
The review will be guided by an expert steering group chaired by Professor Tom Collins.
The review will be carried out in accordance with the following Terms of Reference:
Describe and review existing career guidance tools and career information for post-primary/further education/higher education students and adults, currently in place across the education and training system in Ireland.
The review will specifically consider:
- existing policy framework for such tools and information
- information sources, including online tools
- organisational structures
Assess how learners form their opinions around career choice including when, who and what influences these choices.
Review the quality, quantity and sources of career information available and assess which mechanisms and what formats have the greatest impact on students and adults career choices.
Outline what measures could be designed and what framework created to enhance enterprise engagement with the education and training system in relation to providing information on career pathways for students and adults.
Recommend changes to improve the existing career guidance tools and career information for post-primary/further education/higher education students and adults, currently in place across the education and training system in Ireland.
Review to commence in Quarter 1, 2018 and a report to be completed and published by end Quarter 2, 2018.