Information, guidance and counselling services

Services

In Finland, information, guidance and counselling services are offered by several operators. In addition to public services, the third sector and private operators also offer guidance services. A large number of international organisations, networks and other operators also work in the field of guidance.

Information, guidance and counselling services in Finland

Public employment services

Public employment services in Finland provide career guidance, guidance in making career choices and support in finding employment. For example, public employment services offer labour policy education, rehabilitation services, guidance services related to the integration of immigrants and EURES guidance for finding a job in Europe.

One-Stop Guidance Centers

One-Stop Guidance Centers offer information, support and guidance in matters related to education and training, hobbies and employment to people under 30. The aim is to promote employment and education among young people and support a good everyday life.

Koordinaatti

Koordinaatti is a national centre of expertise providing information and counselling to young people. All youth information and counselling services in Finland can be found on the Koordinaatti website. Youth information and counselling is preventative youth work that provides information, guidance and counselling in different questions related to young people’s life.

Other Finnish operators and services in the field of guidance

Suomen opinto-ohjaajat – SOPO ry

Suomen opinto-ohjaajat ry (Association of Finnish guidance counsellors) aims to increase guidance professionals’ opportunities to influence matters and improve the availability and quality of the basic and continuing education of guidance counsellors.

KEHA Centre

In the employment and economic development administration, the cooperation, education and training matters related to guidance have mainly been centralised to the national KEHA Centre. KEHA is the development and administrative centre of the centres for economic development, transport and the environment (ELY Centres) and the employment and economic development offices (TE Offices). It is responsible for the training of the guidance personnel in the organisation and also offers mentoring and work coaching internally. In addition, KEHA organises cooperation between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the regional guidance network by organising regular meetings to which the persons in charge of the ELO groups from the TE Offices and ELY Centres are invited.

Development of lifelong guidance

The Ministry of Education and Culture published the strategic objectives for lifelong guidance in 2011. The task of the national cooperation group on lifelong guidance is to develop lifelong guidance in Finland from a strategic point of view. Guidance operators from different administrative sectors are represented in the group. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture take turns in chairing the cooperation group. The cooperation group publishes a topical overview of lifelong guidance.

In addition to the national cooperation group on lifelong guidance, the centres for economic development, transport and the environment (ELY centres) coordinate lifelong guidance at the regional level. Together with representatives of the world of work, they coordinate guidance and counselling services and ensure their availability. In addition, they organise guidance-related continuing education in their area. There are 15 regional cooperation groups on lifelong guidance.

National strategic objectives for lifelong guidance (Ministry of Education and Culture 2011)

Guidance services are available on an equal basis and they meet the needs on the individual
Individual career management skills improve
Guidance practitioners have the knowledge and skills required for their tasks
Quality assurance systems for guidance are developed
Guidance functions as a coordinated entity

Guidance counsellor education

Guidance counsellor education consists of postgraduate studies with the scope of 60 ECTS. Two universities and five universities of applied sciences in Finland offer guidance counsellor education:

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
Häme University of Applied Sciences
JAMK University of Applied Sciences
University of Jyväskylä
University of Eastern Finland
Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Tampere University of Applied Sciences

In addition to the postgraduate studies of 60 ECTS, it is possible to complete a master’s degree in guidance at the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Jyväskylä. More information on the education, application times and admission criteria is available in Studyinfo

International networks and operators in the field of guidance

Euroguidance network

The European Euroguidance Network supports guidance professionals in matters related to internationalisation in education, training and employment.

International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance

The international guidance organisation IAEVG organises the largest conference in the field of guidance every year. It promotes best practices so that everyone can have access to guidance and counselling.

International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy

ICCDPP is an international research network for guidance policy, aimed at disseminating information and advice for the development of national and regional career guidance systems.

Network for Innovation in Career Guidance and Counselling in Europe

A network for European career guidance research for people working in the field of career guidance. The network currently comprises more than 50 higher education institutions educating guidance professionals across Europe.

Cedefop

Cedefop is a European centre for the development of vocational education and training. It provides information about vocational education and training. The centre monitors the trends in the labour market and helps the European Commission, the EU countries, employer’s organisations and trade unions in matching the education offered to the needs of the labour market.

European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network

The aim of the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (2007–2015) was to support the EU Member States and the European Union in the development of lifelong guidance.