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Striking the right note: the cultural preparedness approach to developing resonant career guidance programmes

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Abstract

Cultural preparedness is presented as a conceptual framework that could guide the development of culture-resonant interventions. The Jiva careers programme is presented as a case study to illustrate a method of career and livelihood planning based upon Indian epistemology and cultural practices. Social cognitive environments and career beliefs are discussed as key factors that characterise a group’s orientation to career development. An impact analysis is described. Traditional knowledge is highlighted as an important resource for constructing career guidance programmes to address the needs of clients from different cultural heritages.

Résumé

Saisir le bon thème : l’approche de la préparation culturelle au développement de programmes d’orientation spécifiques. La préparation culturelle est présentée comme un cadre conceptuel qui pourrait guider l’élaboration d’interventions adaptées aux spécificités culturelles. Le programme de carrière Jiva est présenté comme une étude de cas pour illustrer une méthode de planification de carrière et des moyens d’existence basés sur l’épistémologie et les pratiques culturelles indiennes. Les environnements sociaux cognitifs et les croyances vis-à-vis de la carrière sont discutés comme des facteurs clés qui caractérisent l’orientation d’un groupe vers le développement de carrière. Une analyse d’impact est décrite. Les savoirs traditionnels sont mis en évidence comme une ressource importante pour la construction de programmes d’orientation professionnelle afin de répondre aux besoins des clients ayant divers héritages culturels.

Zusammenfassung

Den richtigen Ton treffen: Der kulturelle Vorbereitungs-Ansatz zur Entwicklung von resonanten Berufsberatungsprogrammen. Kulturelle Vorbereitung wird als ein konzeptueller Rahmen vorgestellt, der die Entwicklung von Kultur-resonanten Interventionen leiten könnte. Das Jiva Laufbahn Programm wird als eine Fallstudie für ein Verfahren zur Laufbahn- und Lebens-Planung präsentiert, welches auf der indischen Epistemologie und kulturellen Praktiken basiert. Sozial-kognitive Umgebungen und Laufbahn Überzeugungen werden als Schlüsselfaktoren diskutiert, welche die Orientierung einer Gruppe zur beruflichen Entwicklung prägen. Eine Analyse der Wirkung wird beschrieben. Traditionelles Wissen wird als eine wichtige Ressource für die Gestaltung von Berufsberatungs-Programmen hervorgehoben, um auf die Bedürfnisse von Klienten mit unterschiedlichem kulturellem Erbe einzugehen.

Resumen

Dando la Nota Correcta: El Enfoque de Adaptación Cultural para Desarrollar Programas de Orientación con Impacto. La sensibilidad o adaptación cultural (tener en cuenta la cultura) se presenta como un marco conceptual que podría servir de guía para el desarrollo de intervenciones en las que la cultura sea una parte importante de las mismas. El programa Jiva de orientación profesional se presenta como estudio de caso para ilustrar un método de planificación de la carrera y del proyecto de vida basado en la epistemología y prácticas culturales de la India. Se analizan las creencias profesionales y el ambiente social-cognitivo como factores clave que caracterizan la orientación (tendencia) de un grupo hacia el desarrollo de la carrera. Se describe el análisis de impacto. Se destaca el conocimiento tradicional como un recurso importante en la elaboración de programas de orientación profesional para atender a las necesidades de clientes de diferente bagaje cultural.

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Acknowledgment

The writing of this paper was partly supported by a grant from the Jacobs Foundation, Zurich, and The Promise Foundation, Bangalore.

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Arulmani, G. Striking the right note: the cultural preparedness approach to developing resonant career guidance programmes. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 11, 79–93 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-011-9199-y

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