The “Education to Employment” project has been dedicated to developing Career Guidance and Counselling (CGC) services at the local level and advancing the CGC system at the national level throughout its three implementation phases.

In the context of dynamic social and economic changes, it is essential to make informed career decisions that align with personal interests and abilities while also meeting the demands of the labour market. CGC services play a vital role in developmental policies and serve as indispensable support for planning and managing individual personal and professional growth.

Local Level

The project has supported the establishment of eleven career centers under the name Job Info Centers (JICs) in Kragujevac, Kruševac, Kraljevo, Požega, Niš, Pirot, Knjaževac, Šabac, Smederevo, Novi Sad and Belgrade. These centers provide direct support to young people and adults in career planning, decision-making about further education, job searching, career selection or transition, and also assist companies in hiring and organizing workplace training. They sustainably and innovatively connect schools, individuals, businesses, and the civil sector at the local level, acting as a strong link between the worlds of education and work.

Drawing from Switzerland’s long-standing tradition in career guidance and counselling and utilizing innovative digital tools and tests, the project developed methodologies for training career practitioners and delivering CGC services, which are applied in local JICs. Trained career practitioners offer comprehensive and continuous support through individual and group activities, helping individuals manage their career development.

Practitioners organize real-life interactions with employers and professionals, group and individual career info sessions, CV-writing workshops, thematic workshops on career planning, the impact of gender stereotypes on career decisions, and competency assessments using standardized digital tools.

Five centers have been accredited as publicly recognized providers of adult education activities for CGC services, confirming the quality of the services developed. Numerous activities are also carried out in primary and secondary schools, creating local partnerships to support young people in making informed decisions and setting career goals.

For more details about the individual services offered by the Job Info Centers and the tools developed for career guidance, visit jobinfo.rs.

National Level

The “Education to Employment” project supports policymakers in improving the CGC system, which spans education, employment, youth, and social protection policies. In collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran, and Social Affairs, and the National Employment Service, the project trained over 100 advisors/practitioners in providing high-quality CGC services, introducing service standards, and developing manuals.

In partnership with the Qualifications Agency, the project facilitated adjustments to the accreditation procedures for CGC services as adult education activities and created a digital training program for CGC practitioners in the education system, available on the Moodle platform.

Additionally, the project supported and directly participated in analyses and research to define competency profiles for career practitioners, laying the foundation for their professionalization and developing systems for recognizing essential competencies in this field. Through direct project support, occupational standards for Career Practitioners and Career Guidance and Counselling Specialists were also developed.