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The Irish European Schools Guidance Service - Moving with German National Survey about the impact of Covid-19 on

the times guidance in education, career and employment

The European Schools and the Accredited European Schools are educational institutions set up in the The National Forum Guidance in Education, Career and Employment in Germany conducted a survey
European Union’s Member States. They provide children with a multilingual and multicultural education at among its members to understand the long-term impact of the pandemic on guidance practices. Of the
nursery, primary and secondary levels. The Schools follow a specific curriculum and offer the European 47 members, 22 completed the questionnaire with eight closed questions and one open question.
Baccalaureate diploma. The Irish Department of Education provides funding for access to appropriate Among the 22 members were nine guidance institutes/practitioners, five professional associations,
guidance for the children of Irish parents who are enrolled in the 13 European Schools. This service is geared four other organisations (e.g. educational providers, trade union) and four replies from science/
specifically to the needs of Irish students who may be considering applying to Irish third-level institutions and research university.
who have questions regarding general entry requirements, course requirements and application procedures
and deadlines. It is coordinated by Euroguidance Ireland and is delivered by qualified Irish Guidance
Counsellors in the autumn of each year. The respondents reported significant restrictions of learning. Questions about new work time models
services, which also caused financial losses for guidance (organization of home office) and professional
To ensure the service would not be interrupted by any providers. Since many conferences and further trainings development have increased, as have guidance enquiries
potential school closures and facilitate parental had been cancelled or postponed, many guidance about vocational re-orientation.
attendance, the service was moved from taking place
during school hours to the evening time. practitioners felt restricted in the development of their own The digitalisation enables outreach to multiple groups of
competences.
Over 100 students availed of this ‘new’ version of the guidance seekers (migrants, refugees, people with
service, with an increased number of parents also in Concurrently, there was an innovation boost in terms of disabilities, disadvantaged young people, NEETs) but also
attendance. We were delighted to have received positive digitalisation. The implementation of digitally based bears the risk of missing out on vulnerable users
responses like the below! infrastructure has been faster than it would have been (especially low-skilled people), as the access threshold for
“Thank you for the guidance session and informative without the pandemic. 82 percent of the respondents certain groups is higher than in face-to-face guidance.
presentation which gently introduced my daughter to changed their services and adapted to digital formats,
thinking about what she would be interested in doing in the especially video counselling (e.g. Skype or Zoom) and The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the benefits of
future. We are especially grateful that you found a way of email communication. However, counselling via live chat digital or blended service formats for the future. To
The unexpected arrival of COVID-19 forced Euroguidance providing this service during this time of the Corona. strengthen guidance in education, career and
Ireland to get creative. Making a virtue out of necessity, Thank you for providing such a service to the children.” has not been implemented yet. Only one third of the employment, financial support for guidance institutes is
Euroguidance Ireland brought forward their plans for the respondents developed and tested innovative solutions
service and shortened the development timeline. The To learn more about the European School Service and that could be useful for guidance practice. needed to set up and develop a digital infrastructure.
result? In autumn 2020, this service was delivered, for the 2020 delivery, see - euroguidance.ie/european-schools Furthermore, concepts must be developed that facilitates
first time ever, entirely online. The main challenges of implementing digital guidance good quality and data protection-compliant services. And
formats seem to be the availability of technical equipment last but not least, it is important to maintain personal
This transition involved: and support as well as compliance with data protection guidance services for those who need guidance but have
David Cullen laws combined with user-friendly tools. Institutional limited access to technical services.
The development of a new student guidance portal
Euroguidance Ireland guidelines sometimes limited the possibilities to use
The creation and integration of an online booking certain formats. Building a trusting relationship with those
facility
seeking advice was more difficult in online settings. The full report (in German language only)
The use and integration of ‘Zoom’ for delivery However, counselling sessions were also more flexible in can be found HERE.

Intensive communication with school coordinators, terms of time and location. More and more practitioners
students, and their parents were motivated and digital skills increased.
The broadening of the guidance team for delivery Both guidance practitioners and guidance seekers need to

The provision of training regarding the European develop new competences concerning digitalisation. For Sara Koobonye
School system, the European Baccalaureate, the new many guidance seekers, support in the technical process Euroguidance Germany
student portal and the use of ‘Zoom’. is necessary, which is not always easy to carry out due to
A substantial number of new online resources and an FAQ a lack of resources (technical and personnel).
section were developed to enable students and their Furthermore, there is a need for guidance practitioners to
parents to prepare for their scheduled guidance sessions be competent in new topics, such as digitalisation in
and continue their research regarding the Irish education working environment or digital forms of teaching and
system and how it relates to the European Baccalaureate.

Euroguidance Insight Magazine Issue 2021 Euroguidance Insight Magazine Issue 2021