On Course for Next Steps: Careers Education and Guidance for Students in FE.

Overview & Synopsis

In 1995-1996, the United Kingdom's Further Education Development Agency examined approaches to delivery of career education/guidance in further education (FE) programs and the roles of career service and college staff in career education/guidance. Data were collected through surveys of approximately 450 colleges in England and Wales and 28 career services. Responses were received from 215 (47.7%) of the colleges and 25 (89%) of the career services. Case studies of 12 colleges demonstrating indications of good practice/development and representing a geographically and institutionally diverse sample were also conducted. The following were among the study's main findings: the work of FE guidance staff is being greatly affected by increasing variation in the student population; nearly three-fourths of institutions have written policies on career education/guidance; student satisfaction surveys are the most popular method of evaluating guidance provision; tutorial groups are the preferred means of delivering career education/guidance; interest in accrediting career education/guidance programs (particularly through General National Vocational Qualifications) is evident; and approximately three-fourths of FE colleges and two-thirds of sixth-form colleges employ at least one career specialist. (Appended are the following: study methodology; checklist for reviewing career education/guidance for FE students; and 11 references.) (MN)