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The Role of National Euroguidance Centre in the Euroguidance Network Most of the European countries have one main centre which provides the citizens quality information on possibilities of training and education in other European countries. These centres constitute the transnational Euroguidance network. The Euroguidance Slovenia centre operates in the frame of the Employment Service of Slovenia - Central Office. Through this network the centre acts as a link between the guidance services of each member country, enabling the information exchange about study and training opportunities throughout Europe. The Euroguidance network (http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/euroguidance/index_en.htm) is funded by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Education and Culture - EAC) which views it as a mechanism for promoting the mobility of pupils, students, teachers and young workers in European countries. Since 2000 the Euroguidance (former NRCVG) network has a special status in the Leonardo da Vinci II Programme (Second Phase of the Programme from 2000 to 2006). From 2007 to 2013 the Euroguidance centres operate in the Lifelong Learning Programme as a new transversal programme with aims to promote both lifelong guidance and mobility. The transnational network of Euroguidance centres are supported by annual operating grants (one agreement per country), allocated to the organization designated by the national authorities as the contractual counterpart of the Unit P3 – Lifelong Learning of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (http://eacea.ec.europa.eu).The activities defined in the European Commission document for operating Euroguidance centres are as follows:
To promote cooperation between the various factors in the field of guidance on a national and international level. To raise the awareness of European opportunities for guidance practitioners on a national and international level. To contribute to the development of the international network of Euroguidance also through:
The Role of Euroguidance Slovenia In December 1998 the Pilot Vocational Information and Counselling Centre was established in Slovenia with the help of the PHARE Programme. The Slovenian National Resource Centre for Vocational Guidance (NCIPS) was set up within the Employment Service of Slovenia in March 1999. The requirements for becoming a member of the NRCVG transnational network were met when Slovenia became an associated country of the EU. In February 2000 a contract was signed between the Employment Service of Slovenia and the European Commission on funding NCIPS. Euroguidance is the only adequate name for centres and network from 2007.Euroguidance Slovenia has two main functions:
To plan and produce informative material. On a national level Euroguidance Slovenia operates in a network connecting different organisations which prepare and collect quality information about education and training opportunities (The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs, The Ministry of Education and Sport, The Employment Service of Slovenia, The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, The Chamber of Craft of Slovenia, The Slovenian Institute for Adult Education, universities and schools). Euroguidance Slovenia coordinates the information flow among partners and clients. Moreover, it also provides the professional support to vocational and information centres as well as other clients, but does not provide direct assistance to visitors in vocational information centres. In addition to collection and production of information on vocational training and labour market, the centre provides the descriptions and video-presentations of professions as well as important information about universities, studies, financial aid etc. As its main priority is to connect, collect and distribute available informative material, Euroguidance Slovenia prepares informative material and databases mainly in case of missing information (e. g. occupations’ descriptions). On the web portal PLOTEUS (http://europa.eu.int/ploteus/portal/home.jsp) the members of Euroguidance Slovenia maintain and update database about education and training possibilities in Europe. Other tasks of Euroguidance Slovenia are as follows:
On the European level Euroguidance Slovenia offers the activities that are not carried out by other services (such as the international student exchange programmes). In these cases is Euroguidance Slovenia only responsible for providing information on the authorised services in Slovenia to the interested public. The Cooperation of partner institutions in the Euroguidance Slovenia network The organisation of Euroguidance centre differs from country to country. In most countries the centre was established by the ministries responsible for employment and education since the activities of the centres are closely linked with both of these fields. The Employment Service of Slovenia has been developing the function and the main objectives of the Euroguidance centre since the beginning of the pilot centre, which makes specific conditions in Slovenia. Such an activity could not be carried out without the experienced professionals and the know-how which has been developed in the Employment Service of Slovenia in recent years. A possible transfer of this role to another institution would therefore result in great financial costs as well as time loss. It is, however, of great importance that the cooperation among partner organisations and institutions at national level is ensured as well as promoted.
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