The network promotes co-operation in the development of policies and systems for lifelong guidance provision at national level through European co-operation. This includes policy sharing, and promotion and support for development of the broader EU policy framework for lifelong guidance.
The network will identify lifelong guidance policy issues for which there are gaps in policy development and implementation at national level and which merit collaborative action at EU level (such as peer-learning clusters, research, and other co-operation activities). Each theme can be a basis of a thematic cluster work packages.
The work programme will be defined by the network, taking into account participating countries' priorities, relevant Council Resolutions and other EU policy documents.
Functions
In the course of a series of consultations with relevant stakeholders and Member States' representatives, the functions set out below have been identified. It is emphasised that all of these do not necessarily have to be implemented from the onset of the network; they can be launched gradually, and expanded over the next few years.
1. Support for policy development: a key role of the network is supporting lifelong guidance policy development at national level. The network will also contribute to EU lifelong guidance policy development by reporting on the progress of implementation of the lifelong guidance resolution priorities and by issuing informed opinions and views regarding EU policy developments.
2. Policy sharing: the network provides an exchange platform for national policy and decision makers, practitioners and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. through peer learning activities, exchange visits, and thematic working groups comprising clusters of countries working on issues of common interest).
3. Information gathering: the network supports policy development by providing a comprehensive and updated overview of trends and patterns in guidance, and assessing progress achieved in implementing relevant Council Resolutions. The network seeks mechanisms to promote synergy among, and develop an overview of, EU funded projects on lifelong guidance and parallel initiatives. This enables the network to make evidence-based recommendations on policy developments and implementation.
4. Policy analysis and research: the network identifies new research areas on topics relevant for policy development. The network will launch thematic research and studies, on its own initiative, through subcontracting or share the outcomes of studies launched by Cedefop. The purpose is not to undertake new research for purely scientific reasons, but to concentrate on issues which have strong policy relevance.
5. Use of reference tools: the network supports the application of existing common EU reference tools and the development of new tools where appropriate.
6. Exploiting project outcomes: the network disseminates and exploits the results of guidance projects and studies, in particular those funded by the EU, feeding into policy development at both national and EU levels (this includes disseminating the policy lessons of projects supported by Leonardo, Grundtvig, Joint Actions, the new Lifelong Learning Programme, and the European Social Fund).
7. Strengthening representative structures: the network also assists the development of National Guidance Fora or other national representative structures, both in participating countries where they already exist and in those
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