Careers Guidance is Key to Prosperity

Careers guidance must play a central role in driving skills and employment if the UK is to continue to prosper, according to experts attending an international symposium in Scotland in October.

Over 100 delegates from over 30 countries will emphasise that careers guidance needs to be placed at the heart of education, social and employment policy at the 4th biennial International Symposium on Career Development & Public Policy in Aviemore on October 22-25, organised by Careers Scotland.

It is the first time the symposium has come to the UK and will welcome delegates from around the world including developing nations such as Botswana, India and Egypt.

Vivienne Brown, Head of Policy & Strategy at Careers Scotland, said: ìA skilled, employed workforce is essential to a countryís prosperity and competitiveness.

ìCareers guidance plays an important role in shaping peopleís working lives and ensuring they have the skills, attitudes and self-confidence to succeed in todayís competitive global market.

ìOver the last few years, understanding of the role career guidance can play has moved up the policy agenda and the size of the symposium is testimony to that growing interest.

ìAlso the number of individuals who want to plan their career and take part in learning and training is growing as people want to be more in control of decisions about their careers and therefore their lifestyles.î

ìResearch shows careers guidance can lead to higher levels of employment, greater attainment, higher wages, improved motivation at work, increased wellbeing and greater levels of social inclusion.

ìThis conference is an exciting opportunity for experts from around the world to share ideas and develop new policies for improving careers guidance in their respective countries help individuals to obtain and sustain rewarding careers throughout their lives.î

Delegates will examine current and emerging social, economic and educational issues which are likely to impact upon career development policies, strategies and operations.
They will aim to build closer cooperation and understanding between career guidance service deliverers, researchers and policy-makers in education, lifelong learning, economic development and social inclusion.

Key speakers at the event include: Gordon Clark of the European Commission; Willy Roe of Highlands & Island Enterprise, Tony Greer from the Australian government, Aboubakr Abdeen Badawi, an adviser to the government of Egypt, Charles Leadbeater of Demos and clinical psychologist Gideon Arulmani of The Promise Foundation in India.