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European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network representatives’ conceptions of the role of information and communication technologies related to national guidance policies

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Abstract

This article reports findings from a phenomenographic investigation into European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network representatives’ conceptions of the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) related to national lifelong guidance policies. The role of ICT in relation to national lifelong guidance policies was conceived as (1) unexploited, (2) emerging, (3) acknowledged but fragmented, and (4) strategic. The hierarchical structure of the findings may serve as a tool to enable policy makers and other stakeholders to deepen their understanding of critical aspects that may have an important role in relation to further developments and the successful implementation of existing and emerging technologies in the guidance service sector.

Résumé

Les conceptions des représentants du Réseau Européen pour les Politiques d’Orientation Tout au Long de la Vie sur le rôle des technologies de l’information et de la communication liées aux politiques d’orientation nationales. Nous avons conduit une investigation phénoménographique au sujet des conceptions des représentants du Réseau Européen pour les Politiques d’Orientation Tout au Long de la Vie (ELPGN) sur le rôle des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) liées au politiques d’orientation nationales. Le rôle des TIC en lien avec les politiques d’orientation tout au long de la vie est considéré comme (1) inexploité, (2) en émergence, (3) reconnu, mais fragmenté, et (4) stratégique. La structure hiérarchique de ces résultats peut servir d’outil pour permettre aux décideurs politiques et autres intervenants d’approfondir leur compréhension des aspects critiques qui pourraient jouer un rôle important dans les développements futurs et l’implémentation réussie des technologies existantes et émergentes dans le secteur des services d’orientation.

Zusammenfassung

Die Auffassung der Konzeption der Rolle von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien von Repräsentanten des Europäische Netzwerk für eine Politik lebensbegleitender Beratung. Es wurde eine phenomenographische Untersuchung bei Repräsentanten des Europäische Netzwerk für eine Politik lebensbegleitender Beratung (ELGPN) bezüglich der Auffassung der Rolle von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien (ICT), bezogen auf die nationalen “Lifelong Guidance” Richtlinien, durchgeführt. Die Rolle von ICT bezüglich nationaler “Lifelong Guidance” Richtlinien wurde als (1) ungenutzt, (2) aufkommend, (3) anerkannt aber fragmentiert, und (4) strategisch wahrgenommen. Die hierarchische Struktur der Ergebnisse kann als Hilfsmittel dienen, um Politikern und anderen Interessensvertretern ein vertieftes Verständnis für kritische Aspekte zu bieten. Diese spielen eine wichtige Rolle für weitere Entwicklungen und die erfolgreiche Umsetzung von bestehenden und aufkommenden Technologien im Beratungsmarkt.

Resumen

El papel de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en las políticas nacionales de orientación según la European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (Red Europea de Políticas de Orientación Contínua). Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio fenomenográfico de las concepciones de la European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN) acerca del papel que juegan las tecnologías de información y la comunicación (ICT) en las politicas nacionales de orientación continua. Dicho papel se identificó como (1) no explotado (2) emergente (3) reconocido pero fragmentado, y (4) estratégico. La estructura jerárquica de estos hallazgos puede proporcionar una herramienta para legisladores y agentes decisores en la mejora de su conocimiento de aspectos determinantes para futuros desarrollos, y para la implementación satisfactoria de las tecnologías existentes y emergentes en la orientación.

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Correspondence to Jaana Kettunen.

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Kettunen, J., Vuorinen, R. & Ruusuvirta, O. European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network representatives’ conceptions of the role of information and communication technologies related to national guidance policies. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 16, 327–342 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-015-9313-7

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