Wednesday, June 24, 2015 was presented the baseline study on the current situation in orientation / career counselling, accomplished by AXA Management Consulting within the REVOCC project, funded by the Austrian Development Agency.
The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, National Employment Agency (ANOFM), civil society, teachers and students from institutions where research was made, experts in orientation / career counselling.
In this context, Mr. Vitalie Popa, deputy director AXA Management Consulting presented the study results, divided in four areas of research: 1. The achievement of orientation/career counselling in educational institutions; 2. Collaboration with various institutions; 3. Intentions after graduating from the educational institution; 4. How is perceived a successful career.
Research sample consisted of 110 teachers, 380 students, including VET schools, 60 parents, 30 entrepreneurs and representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Employment Agencies, development partners etc.
The study revealed that career guidance is at the rate of 90.9%, teachers affirmed that the institution he represents have activities in orientation / career counselling.
Regarding the students that participated in the study, they demonstrated a keen interest and a relatively high level of use of electronic and print resources required to evaluate their interests and abilities. Thus, 68.4% of them use their professional assessment materials and 76.6% – skills assessment materials, the main sources of these test / measurement tools being internet and school . In this context it should be mentioned that students have suggested that testing materials and other information with reference to orientation / career counselling should be available in electronic format, on-line, which would facilitate better access of people to such information.
The study also researched the level of cooperation of educational institutions with other institutions involved in the orientation/career counselling process. Only 29.1% of respondents mentioned the collaboration with the territorial Employment Agency and only 16% who exemplified with whom they cooperate in this regard.
Because of lack of collaboration between the “actors” and therefore a key mechanism in collaboration network, more than half of students surveyed said that they had not participated so far in personal development activities and orientation / career counselling .
The discussions initiated during the presentation of the study have generated constructive suggestions regarding the orientation/career counselling, specifically was mentioned the need to create a general concept of orientation/career counselling and the need to create a National Centre for Career Guidance. The participants also appreciated the relevance of the study and its importance, especially considering the fact that such a study has been made for the first time in Moldova.
