To meet the requirements of an increasingly innovative and competitive environment, workers need to continuously develop and maintain competence. Consequently, initial vocational education and training should prepare (future) workers by providing a basis for lifelong learning in developing both routine and flexible competence. The question is…

The purpose of this study was to examine career conversations between teachers and students in competence-based vocational education in the Netherlands. A total of 32 career conversations were observed and analysed with respect to four elements: content, teacher activities, student activities and relationship. Results showed that career…

A European conference studied the implications from the learner's point of view for adult education and training guidance in an expanded Europe. The two main questions addressed were: How can adult learners make informed choices about education and training in the changing economic and demographic context? and How can the requirements of adult…

This article summarizes recent information on the changing role of professional guidance and the linkages between different services in the Netherlands. The article is organized in three sections. Section 1 highlights some fundamental characteristics of the Dutch educational system. Section 2 examines the structure of the existing guidance…

This report describes educational and vocational guidance services for adolescents and young adults in Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Netherlands. It is drawn from a larger study that was conducted to compare the nature and size of guidance services, their staffing and funding, the identity of their clients, and in particular,…

This document examines support for students in open learning systems (OLS) by clarifying the concept at the theoretical level, looking for empirical support for its potential value, and identifying key variables that constrain approaches to support. Part 1 clarifies two key concepts--support and effects. Part 2 presents the definition of OLS. In…

There are two sectors of higher education in the Netherlands: the universities covered by the University Education Act and the vocationally-oriented colleges covered by the Further Education Act. Following a summary of the main elements of secondary education, higher or tertiary education is defined. Thirteen universities and non-university…

Guidance strategies play an important role in reintegrating young people who have dropped out of the formal education, training, and employment system and must include support for nonformal guidance agents in the community. A European program has explored three strategies for linking formal and nonformal guidance structures to provide social…