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National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance
(Euroguidance Centre of Greece)
The Basic Activities of the Network
The activities outlined below are common to all National Resource Centres for Vocational Guidance comprising the Euroguidance Network, hence of the EKEP.
i. PLOTEUS - Internet Information Portal for Education opportunities in Europe
The basic aim of the PLOTEUS Internet Portal is to support mobility of individuals for education / training purposes in Europe. The range of information available in this Portal covers all levels of education and training - from primary to tertiary, as well as adult education. The PLOTEUS Portal was set up to address primarily the information needs of the European citizens with respect to education and training. In addition, this Portal is expected to function as an invaluable resource of information for Guidance Professionals in the fields of education and employment, as well as for educators and trainers in the field of training. The role of all Euroguidance Centres is to identify, classify and enter into the PLOTEUS’ database the national information resources available on the Internet. The first phase of the portal was completed and the Portal was officially established on the Internet on March 5, 2003.
ii. Euroguidance ICT Platform
The ICT platform was set up in 1999 in order to: a) facilitate and strengthen communication among the members of the Network through a password protected communication area, and b) promote the visibility and services of the Network to the Guidance Professionals in Europe through its platform section that is publicly accessible.
The website of the Euroguidance Network provides the following:
- Direct access to all National Resource Centres (NRCVGs)
- Information about the activities of the Network
- Links to basic information resources about the development of the european dimension of Counselling and Vocational Guidance, education and vocational training
- Information about transnational programmes and partnerships with respect to Counselling and Vocational Guidance.
iii. Information
One of the basic activities of all Network Resource Centers is to provide quality information about education, training, employment, vocational guidance, European initiatives and mobility programmes to interested individuals, Guidance Counsellors, as well as to colleagues of the Euroguidance Network itself.
iv. Participation in International Conferences and Work Meetings among Network Members
The members of the Euroguidance Network participate in international congresses about Counselling and Vocational Guidance with the aim to promote the Network and good practices in the field of Vocational Guidance and mobility, as well as disseminate the results of transnational projects and partnerships in the field of Counselling and Vocational Guidance.
In addition, the members of the Network organize work visits at various NRCVG venues to exchange know-how, good practices and examples with the aim to attain a steady improvement of their services.
v. ACADEMIA - Guidance Professionals Exchange Program
The ACADEMIA Programme concerns the transnational exchange of Guidance Counsellors in the context of the Leonardo da Vinci programme. The Exchange Program aims to enhance the knowledge and experience of guidance counsellors through the opportunity to exchange information and best practice in guidance with other European colleagues. The visits involve work-shadowing, work place visits and information sessions which will enhance and broaden the counsellors’ experience and approaches to guidance services.
Many of the National Recourse Centers of the Euroguidance Network are involved with the coordination of the exchange programme and hosting of incoming guidance counsellors on a national level. Although EKEP, the NRCVG-Greece, is not involved with the coordination of ACADEMIA, it nevertheless hosts guidance professionals from participating countries and conducts presentations of its role in Greece and of the Greek education system and guidance practices.
vi. Participation in Transnational Programmes and Initiatives
Many of the NRCVG Centers of the Euroguidance Network participate in transnational projects spinning around numerous objectives, i.e.: a) development of new tools for information dissemination and Vocational Guidance, b) development of innovative methods in education, education material and thematic units in the training of the Guidance Counsellors, c) capitalize on the know-how of other countries with respect to specific issues, i.e. e-learning, use of technology in Counselling and Vocational Guidance, etc., d) conduct European research on mobility, e) take up actions to support the mobility of Guidance Counsellors in Europe, etc.
Some of the transnational projects referred to above are:
Guidenet, On the Move
and Fit for Europe.
vii. Cooperation with other European Networks
The NRCVGs in the Euroguidance Network have established close cooperation and on-going discussions - mainly through the coordinator of the Network in the European Commission - with Community representatives of other transnational networks, e.g. Eures, Cedefop, Eurodesk, NARIC and with the national entities competent with the recognition of professional qualifications. This communication offers the various Networks the opportunity to exchange information with respect to current actions, initiatives and programmes taken and running at a European level, respectively.
viii. Consultation
The European Commission, in particular the DG Education & Culture, has regard to the Euroguidance Network in deciding on a variety of issues, as for example the grounds for the drafting of proposals for common European policies or new European initiatives in the field of education, training, employment, Counselling and Vocational Guidance. Through the Euroguidance Network, the European Commission can easily establish contacts with national entities and organizations, as well as with professionals and experts from 31 European countries and invite their comments on a variety of issues.
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