The situation in Germany is closely linked to European development. In Germany, studies for the development of the guidance discourse also have an important function.

The structures of the guidance landscape were comprehensively reviewed in the investigation of Ramboll Management commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The study analysed, inter alia, providers, target groups, causes, methods, and legal and financial conditions. Furthermore, the research work was also based on recommendations for quality and quality assurance, which were developed in the form of standards and quality profiles (BMBF (ed.) (2007): Review of Guidance in Education, Career and Employment and the Development of Basic Quality Standards. Final report. Berlin: Federal Ministry of Education and Research). A second important study was presented by Schiersmann (Heidelberg University) et al, who took a closer look at the aspect of the development of advisors' competences. The basis of the study is an international and inter-sector comparison of competence catalogues and quality standards for providing guidance. The goal of all these catalogues is the professionalisation of guidance. The study also deals with aspects of quality assurance and development at the three levels: the guidance process, organisational conditions and social conditions (Schiersmann, Christiane; Bachmann, Dirk; Dauner, Alexander; Weber, Peter (2008): Quality and Professionalism in Educational and Vocational Guidance. Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag). Both studies note that while there are numerous quality development and professionalisation activities in guidance in Germany, they are not integrated into a comprehensive, coherent concept.

Effects on educational policies

Parallel to these studies, the activities of the Federal Ministries of Education and Research and of Labour and Social Affairs (BMBF, BMAS) are worth noting. They have initiated two important bodies in which politicians, scientists and practitioners are or were represented. The Committee on Innovation in Continuing Education (IKWB) also developed recommendations for continuing education and lifelong learning. One of its working groups deals with issues of transparency, quality, professionalism and financing of educational guidance. With regard to the EU Council Resolution of 2004, an explicit demand was also made here to create or expand a transparent, networked and cross-sector guidance structure in Germany, which, in particular, concerned the professionalisation of advisors (BMBF (ed.) (2008): Recommendations of the Committee on Innovation in Continuing Education for a Strategy to Structure Lifelong Learning. Bonn, Berlin: W. Bertelsmann Verlag). The recommendations of the IKWB are not just directed at the state as a provider of frameworks and the associations, social partners and educational institutions as advisors, but also at the citizens themselves who should take responsibility for their individual lifelong learning (BMBF 2008). The National Guidance Forum e.V. (nfb) was established against the backdrop of international demands to create forums in the EU member states in order to adapt the country-specific conditions to EU policies and develop them further. It is non-profit and politically independent.

Practical level

At an operative level, there are and were numerous activities for the implementation of the requests mentioned. Notable examples are the support programme "Learning regions – Supporting Networks" as well as "On-Site Learning". There are various projects that take on central discussion topics and have the goal of coordinating practice, research and policies.

Outlook

The aspect of sustainability is of great importance for the expansion and strengthening of lifelong guidance in Europe and Germany. The long-term development of public guidance will be required in the future. The fact that the privatised and company-based guidance discourse (coaching, human resources) seems to be completely separate from public development is problematic. Better cooperation would lead to a significant increase in quality.