The Danish guidance system
Educational and vocational guidance is given high priority in Denmark. A reform of the Danish guidance system in 2004 restructured guidance services for pupils and students in the education system and for young people outside education and employment.
The guidance reform in brief
The legal basis for the guidance reform is the new Act on Guidance in Relation to Choice of Education, Training and Career, adopted by the Danish Parliament in April 2003. The act defines a set of national targets for the new guidance system, including more guidance services specifically aimed at young people with special needs for guidance, increased use of ICT in guidance, improved quality assurance, and increased professionalisation of guidance counsellors.
The guidance reform included:
- the establishment of 46 Youth Guidance Centres with responsibility for guidance in relation to the transition from compulsory to youth education
- the establishment of 7 Regional Guidance Centres with responsibility for guidance in relation to the transition from youth education to higher education
- the launch of a national guidance portal: www.UddannelsesGuiden.dk or simply www.ug.dk. UddannelsesGuiden means the "Education Guide". It provides information about education and training possibilities at all levels, vocational and career issues, labour market conditions and statistics, and learning opportunities abroad. Other features include an electronic career planning tool, the possibility of personal log-on, as well as a section with news and resources, especially aimed at guidance practitioners
- the development of a common training programme for guidance
practitioners across sectors.
The Ministry of Education has been responsible for the implementation of the Danish guidance reform. The new system became operational 1 August 2004.
For more information about the new guidance system, please see the Ministry's web site or the booklet Guidance in Education - a new guidance system in Denmark (pdf, 20 pages).
