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1. Career guidance and counselling services

2. Funding

3. Quality assurance

Career guidance and counselling services

The strategy Lithuania 2050 emphasizes that the rapid development of technology opens up new ways and methods of learning that can promote educational breakthroughs, but at the same time create threats to the sustainability of the community and can contribute to the widening of the educational gap and the decline of justice. It is necessary to set educational goals for education that would help create the integrity of society and personality in the conditions of technological change. The rapid development of technology and its decisive changes in the nature of work pose a challenge to the education system to ensure the opportunities and appropriate capacities for the continuous updating of competencies and skills and the re- (self-)qualification of employees.

Career guidance system in Lithuania

The system is made of a range of institutions where professionals provide services to organize activities to help young people to make decisions about studying, studying or working, to acquire career competencies and to manage their personal careers. 

The following services are identified in the career guidance system:

• vocational information,

• vocational counselling,

• educational careers .

All its services are closely interlinked and rarely provided separately from each other.

Vocational information is the provision of information needed for career planning, choosing or changing professions, and choosing to study, study or work. 

Vocational counselling - providing assistance to persons planning a career, choosing or changing a profession, solving the problems of career disorders. 

Career education is a set of consistently applied measures aimed at developing the competencies of a person's career planning, implementation and evaluation, ie career management. 

The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania , the Ministry of Economy and Inovations of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Ministry of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania are responsible for orientation in Lithuania.

2003 Lithuania's vocational guidance strategy was approved, on the basis of which a vocational information and counselling system is being developed in Lithuania. Vocational information, counselling and career development services are provided in various institutions. More information is here.

Law on education (Švietimo įstatymas) defines career guidance as one of the forms of educational assistance. The purpose of career guidance is defined in the law as follows “by measures of career information, career counselling and career education to help a person to choose education and employment, to acquire career planning and management competences and to actively shape his professional career”. It also states that career guidance shall be provided in most educational institutions (general education schools, vocational training and other educational institutions, career guidance centres and other) in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science together with the Minister of Social Security and Labour, and in higher education schools – in accordance with the procedure laid down by these schools.The Law on Education contains a section on Vocational Guidance and Educational Information Support. The description of the procedure for providing vocational guidance, adopted in August 2022, is available here.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport is responsible for career guidance policy related to the provision of quality career education, information and counselling services for pupils, students, adult learners, etc.. The Ministry of Education and Science establishes the procedure for the delivery of career information and careers education in the educational system. It is aimed that all pupils and students should have a possibility to receive services of career guidance in their educational institution, and these services would help them not only to prepare for their future career, but also to plan, develop and assess their career.

Law on Vocational Education and Training (Profesinio mokymo įstatymas) declares the accessibility of career guidance services for all citizens and refers to the career guidance being organised in educational institutions in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Minister of Education and Science together with the Minister of Social Security and Labour. It defines career guidance as integral part of VET. Law on Higher Education and Research (Mokslo ir studijų įstatymas) declares that “a higher education institution must provide career consultations to students”.  Plan for Development of Non-formal Adult Education and Further Training 2016-2023 (Neformaliojo suaugusiųjų švietimo plėtros ir tęstinio mokymosi 2016–2023 metų plėtros programa) foresees career guidance services for adults.

Organisation and monitoring of career guidance services in general education schools is managed by local municipalities. The mandate for coordination of career guidance services on national level, development of methodology and evaluation of the needs for training and further professional development of guidance counsellors is given to Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency (Career Education Unit).

The website of Open Information, Consultation and Guidance System (AIKOS) is run by the  The Ministry of Education and Science and sports. It is an open information, counselling, and career guidance system providing a wide range of users with information on education and training oppurtunities. The aim of AIKOS is to help any person residing in Lithuania to choose a marketable profession, which can be obtained for the first time or through re-training at Lithuanian or European higher and vocational schools, by accumulating, processing, and presenting easily accessible information to a wide range of users. AIKOS also aims to provide qualitative information on the possibilities of distant learning and inform and consult a wide range of users irrespective of their age helping to chose their own path in the sphere of education, training, and occupation and building their professional career.

In employment sector the Ministry of Social Security and Labour is responsible for career guidance policy related to the provision of quality career information and counselling services for job-seekers (youth and adults) including NEETs. The Ministry of Social Security and Labour establishes the procedure for implementing career guidance in the labour market system, i.e. it coordinates provision of career guidance services to the job seekers, employees, individuals with special needs, individuals who do not study and are unemployed etc. It is considered that all these individuals should have a possibility to receive services that would help them to choose a suitable job, profession; to change their qualification; to develop, assess and, if necessary, to adjust their vocational career plan; and to solve other issues of career guidance, in various structures of the labour market.

Law on Social Integration of People with Disabilities (Neįgaliųjų socialinės integracijos įstatymas) defines career guidance as one of vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. The Ministry of Social Security and Labour carries the responsibility for the organisation of vocational rehabilitation of people with disabilities. 

The mandate for coordination of career guidance services on national level is given to Lithuanian Public Employment Service (with has its Local Labour Exchange Offices). Lithuanian Public Employment Service implement state employment guarantees on labour market, provide assistance for job seekers in finding job, provide employers with necessary skilled labour force, involve registered job seekers into population employment programs (vocational training and retraining, organisation of own business, placement into public works and works financed from the Employment Fund, establishment of new jobs, activities of job clubs) and pay unemployment benefits. The main objective of Lithuanian Labour Exchange is to help registered job seekers to find job according to their qualification and profession. For those who do not have profession or have non-marketable profession or for individuals who find it difficult to integrate into labour market, labour exchange offers to take part in active labour market policy programs e.g. vocational training,public works, works financed from the Employment Fund, starting of own business, job clubs, etc. In youth career guidance (i.e. information and counselling) services for jobseekers are provided by territorial labour exchanges offices and its structural divisions – youth job centres. Youth Job Centres and Local Labour Exchange Offices provide information to job seekers about the situation in the labour market, vacancies and the requirements for applicants, the nature and functions of the job, remuneration conditions, vocational training opportunities and conditions, educational institutions, available qualifications and services provided by the labour exchange. Information services are provided to job seekers individually or in groups, directly or via distance methods.

Pedagogical-Psychological Services (PPS) institutions are established in municipalities (they report directly to municipality administration). Among the service staff of PPS there are special educators and social pedagogues, speech therapists and psychologists who perform psychological and pedagogical assessments of the children development, advice parents and teachers on issues related to learning, behaviour, emotions and communication problems of learners with special needs or psychological difficulties, and provide recommendations on their further development.

Another approach to career guidance and counselling services is to use national, regional or city-level events such as “Career Days” and “Start-up Days” that promote and celebrate entrepreneurship, and provide youth with an opportunity to meet and interact with entrepreneurs. Such events are arranged in a co-operation between the local authorities and key stakeholders e.g. Junior Achievement, INVEGA and Enterprise Lithuania being the most active in the field. For example Enterprise Lithuania organises events to support start-ups to build connections or attract funding from Silicon Valley or European investors. This risk capital market is not well-developed in Lithuania, so the option of the “Road Show” is pursued which includes taking youth entrepreneurs to other markets. This is an expensive and resource-intense process when all of the promotion, selection, travel and follow-up are considered. A number of entrepreneurs benefit greatly from this opportunity and this might likely lead to positive outcomes for Lithuania, such as job creation. However, due to the nature of business angel and venture capital investment, high-tech businesses are often favoured excluding non-innovative and agricultural start-ups, therefore these programs sometimes excludes some of youth entrepreneurs in other areas.

Inovation Agency Lithuania, supporte a national business plan competition, increasing the availability of business counselling, coaching and mentoring. The significance for youth is underlined as the much of the plan is centred on youth. This Action Plan contains two supporting documents. The first identifies actions that will be undertaken to achieve the objectives and indicates a timeline, responsibility for implementation, funding source and key indicators. The second document outlines evaluation criteria to be measured. Inovation Agency Lithuania, for example, possesses a list of consultants that were utilised for various business support schemes. Progress has also been made towards developing an accredited body of consultants in order to ensure the efficiency and quality of the business and self-employment support services. This is a very good step towards ensuring the quality of the services delivered to start-ups and businesses and the effective use of government funding  (OECD, 2015). Information on the recognition and regulation of professions is provided here.

Access to finance is one of the strongest elements of the youth entrepreneurship support system in Lithuania. Although the financial market is small, the national government has a well-develop microcredit programme that is operated by the public agency ILTE. Youth have preferential access to this support and can also benefit from free training and assistance in preparing their application for funding. The guarantee institution ILTE founded by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on 29 November 2001 (previously - INVEGA) issues guarantees to credit institutions for microcredits, to new undertakings for loans for the taking up of a new business, to undertakings for loans aimed at business development as well as for loans used to finance the projects of the EU Structural Funds. Beneficiaries of these guarantees are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with up to 250 employees, natural persons, who have business certificates.

Regional Career Centers (RCCs) started providing services at the beginning of 2022 (source) (https://karjerastau.lt/). The project, developed by the Lithuanian Student Non-Formal Education Center, the Employment Service and the Agency of Youth Affairs , provides an opportunity to receive professional career guidance services to people of all ages throughout the country. "Regional Career Centers are another result of high-quality inter-institutional cooperation. Students, job seekers who want to change their career path can receive free consulting, information and activation services. This is not only an opportunity to learn about future professions, but also to learn to be confident and make decisions related to career planning," said the Director of the Employment Service (source). RCC network model is based on Finnish best practice. Priority areas of activity are focused on strengthening the vocational guidance education in schools, which was legalized on September 1, and providing services tailored to individual needs for unemployed people up to 29 years of age or older. It is expected that the new generation vocational guidance model will help achieve optimal compatibility of labor market supply and demand. Career guidance (i.e. information and counselling) services for jobseekers (adults and youth) are provided by territorial labour exchanges (here). 

Majority of public and private HE school’s career centres or similar career related divisions provide career guidance services to students. Career Information Points are set up at general education and training schools, youth centres, non-formal development institutions. The network of Career Information Points is being continuously expanded. They provide information on career choices, training and employment opportunities in Lithuania and abroad and collect and analyse situation within the labour market, e.g. ISM, VU and other; educational institutions organize career days every year, e.g.: https://karjerosdienos.ktu.edu/, https://karjerosdienos.vilniustech.lt/,  https://www.vu-kd.lt/ etc.

A range of other institutions support the provision of career guidance services in education sector such as Euroguidance LT. Career guidance (i.e. career education, information and counselling services) are provided by general education schools and VET schools which organise provision of career guidance services.

Youth Guarantee

The aim of action plan for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee Initiative (Plan adopted in 2021)  is to ensure that all persons aged 15-29 who are not in employment, education or training receive an offer of at least 28 calendar days to work, continue education (including vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship), complete a traineeship or internship within a period of four months from the date of loss of employment or completion (termination) of formal education. In implementing the Plan, services are provided to inactive young people and unemployed persons aged 16-29 (hereinafter referred to as the young unemployed). Career counselling services may be provided to persons aged 14-29.

Funding

Career guidance services are funded from diverse resources. In education sector these services are funded by: state budget via pupil’s basket (i.e. amount of money dedicated to one student’s education) for guidance and cognitive activities for general education and VET schools (which provide general education alongside VET). Part of overall pupil’s basket (approx. 3 EUR per student) is dedicated to career guidance and study visits / activities. Another resources include: 1) state budget and own institution resources of VET schools and HE institutions; 2) ESF funds. In employment sector these services are funded by: 1) Funds for Active Labour Market measures /Funds for unemployed / Funds for Youth Guarantee Initiative (e.g. Lithuania presented a Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan on 18 December 2013 (updated in May 2014) and was eligible for the Youth Employment Initiative which has an allocation of 31.78 million euros (in current prices)); 2) ESF funds. 

New project - Directional Compass - Adult Career Guidance, the aim of which is to create a model of distance vocational guidance for adults and, after integrating it into the system of individual learning services, to provide career guidance services for adults remotely.. Project duration – June 25, 2024 – April 30, 2028. Project funding amount – EUR almost 2.5 million (implementer ESF).

Youth Guarantee Initiative projects implemented is here. 

Support for learning is provided by the Employment Service, information is published here.

Quality assurance

Provision of career guidance services at general education and VET schools is regulated by the Procedure on Implementation of Career Guidance (Profesinio orientavimo vykdymo tvarkos aprašas) adopted by the Minister of Education and Science together with the Minister of Social Security and Labour in 2012. No specific standards are being available, except for the higher education institutions which follow the Framework of Quality assurance of career management services for students (Studentų karjeros valdymo paslaugų srities kokybės gairės). The Framework encompasses description of principles for ensuring the quality of career resources, career practitioners, code of ethics, etc. General education and VET schools are being regularly audited according to the External Audit procedures for schools implementing secondary education programmes adopted by the Ministry of Education, science and Sport in 2007 (Mokyklų, vykdančių bendrojo ugdymo programas, veiklos išorinio vertinimo organizavimo ir vykdymo tvarkos aprašas), which include indicators related to the provision of career guidance services at schools.

Counsellors within Lithuanian Public Employment Service  system are working according to the Quality Standard of Provision of Guidance Services. The standard defines the rules and procedures of providing guidance services for jobseekers. Lithuanian Labour Exchange also has a special Central Department of Internal Audit. This department also contributes to quality assurance of the system. Moreover, a special methodology for evaluation of active labour market measures is in action. The effectiveness of Youth Job Centres is evaluated by analysing quarterly activity reports, action plans, feedback from social partners and public opinion as well as organising monitoring and customer surveys.

Private companies set up their own requirements and standards for guidance practitioners. To improve the process of quality assurance the Lithuanian Entrepreneurship Action Plan 2014-2020 aims to create a national network of business consultants under the responsibility of Enterprise Lithuania which would be expected to improve the quality of training and consultancy services. Lithuania also needs to strengthen entrepreneurship training that occurs outside of the formal education system in rural areas in terms of availability and quality  and ensure that training content is tailored to the needs of the region (OECD, 2015). Lithuania also needs to strengthen entrepreneurship  services that occurs outside of the formal education system in rural areas in terms of availability and quality (OECD, 2015).

There are several study programmes for guidance professionals at Lithuanian higher education institutions. In education sector courses for further development of school staff (including professionals acting as career counsellors or career coordinators) are being regularly offered by licensed educational institutions.

In order to ensure the quality of non-formal adult education programmes and their implementation, the Description of the Procedure for Ensuring the Quality of Non-Formal Adult Education and Continuing Education Programmes Published in the Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) System (hereinafter referred to as the Quality Assurance Description) was amended in June 2024. The Quality Assurance Description, which regulates the requirements for learning programmes, assessment and monitoring of the implementation of learning programmes, has been approved in a new version, which establishes a comprehensive list of violations due to which a learning programme is assessed negatively, as well as more detailed requirements for the implementation of a learning programme, a more detailed description of the mechanism for informing about the results of quality monitoring, and other technical changes have been made.

Taking into account the amendments to the Quality Assurance Description, the Description of the Procedure for Monitoring the Implementation of Non-Formal Adult Education and Continuing Education Programmes Published in the Individual Learning Accounts System has also been amended, which was approved by the Director of the Centre for Qualifications and Professional Development on 9 July 2024. Upon completion of the Learning Program, each participant completes the Learning Program Evaluation Questionnaire in the ILA system in accordance with Annex 4 to the Description.

The above-mentioned documents can be accessed here.