Is it possible to improve the system of scholastic and professional orientation supporting educators and teachers working with disadvantaged young people?

In almost two years of implementation of the SymfoS project a significant number of professionals have been trained and are now regularly conducting counselling sessions using SymfoS education and career guidance approach. This work has been fully documented in manuals describing the basic approach of SymfoS and single methods used, while new tools are under development.

During the 4° Transnational Project Meeting, hosted in the new premises of Ballymun Job Center (Dublin), the 17th and 18th June 2018, the consortium discussed these successes and the next important steps of the project.

The first day of the meeting the partners presented the project implementation progresses in each country and how SymfoS methodology has been integrated in their daily business. Progresses on main intellectual output has also been made and presented. Among all:

• The SymfoS Training Platform and virtual trainer network has been upgraded and new functionalities introduced: it is already possible to read the profiles of the international SymfoS trainers and soon a forum and training area will be officially launched.
• The partners exchanged also their experience collected and presented in the Concept note IO5: Methodology for individual learning and career pathways, supported by peers or buddies: The methodology (with national specifications) developed a practical step in the guidance process using a more holistic approach of peer support, in keeping with the SymfoS ethos. The manual is available for download in the Results page of SymfoS platform.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to the workshop on Transfer Handbook for SymfoS-Methodology and project sustainability. The partners shared the lessons learned from the implementation of SymfoS methodology in each organisation and discussed how to transfer this experience to other organisations and institutions in the education and career guidance sector.

The reflections shared during the workshop will be integrated in a key document for the project: the Transfer Handbook for SymfoS-Methodology. This manual will be of support for all decision makers in VET-provides, schools and youth organisations and at policy level for the introduction of SymfoS approach in new organisations and institutions.

The Curriculum and Profile of competencies for "SymfoS Trainer", which aims at identifying and training appropriate staff to carry out SymfoS guiding method, has been designed to meet ECVET requirements and will be officially presented in the next months.