Background: In a constantly changing world of work, young people are faced with the challenge of actively shaping their professional future. This also applies to pupils attending full-time, non-vocational courses at vocational schools. Many have initially decided on a vocational specialization, but are not yet firm in this decision. "They often lack a comprehensive overview of the available career prospects," explains Dr. Janika Grunau from the Vocational and Business Education department.
Pupils often only realize that the career area they have in mind does not correspond to their expectations after they get to know the practical side of the business. Unconscious gender stereotypes make it even more difficult to gain a comprehensive overview of potential training occupations.
The new handout "Vocational Orientation at Vocational Schools", which has been developed on behalf of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs by the Bildungswerk der Niedersächsischen Wirtschaft and Osnabrück University, Department of Vocational and Business Education, offers practical, tried-and-tested and scientifically evaluated modules and materials for vocational orientation that are specially adapted to the needs of pupils at vocational schools. The handbook also contains valuable recommendations on how further vocational orientation can be implemented sustainably at vocational schools. "This provides vocational schools and extracurricular partners with helpful support in guiding young people through their individual career exploration process," says Dr. Katharina Wehking.
Over the course of the project, 18 vocational schools in Lower Saxony with over 2,000 pupils took part in the testing and scientific evaluation of the developed modules. The results of the accompanying research confirm the success of the project: the participating pupils have gained confidence in their career choices and rated the newly developed modules and materials as helpful overall.
The handout, the contents of which were presented to vocational schools and extracurricular stakeholders at a symposium at the BBS Multimedia in Hanover on November 27, 2024, is freely available via the Osnabrück University repository. Link :https://doi.org/10.48693/615
Further information for the media:
Dr. Janika Grunau and Dr. Katharina Wehking, Osnabrück University
Berufs- und Wirtschaftspädagogik
jgrunau@uos.de