“Enhancing Inclusion through Guidance” Initiative  

TCA activities can be part of long-term international initiatives (LTAs), which are groups of activities linked by the same running theme. The knowledge exchange within an LTA activity contributes to a specific TCA event being more in line with the actual needs of practitioners. A particular advantage of such initiatives is their continuous monitoring and evaluation of progress toward joint objectives.  

Since 2024, the Foundation Tempus has had the role of coordinator for the LTA initiative “Enhancing Inclusion through Guidance”, which is set to run until the end of 2026. The Foundation Tempus’ partners on this LTA are Erasmus+ programme National Agencies from Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania and Austria. More information on the initiative can be found here.  

The objective of this LTA is to support the development of professional skills and capacities of career practitioners by providing in-person training and other activities. Practitioners ought to be able to provide high-quality tailored services to young people from marginalised communities (i.e. young people with disabilities, learning difficulties, those living in informal settlements, refugees and migrants, social welfare system beneficiaries and others). There is a particular focus on developing, sharing and promoting digital tools for career guidance as a mechanism for inclusion, as well as on possibilities for networking of career practitioners from different parts of Europe through Erasmus+ projects and other initiatives. The target group for the LTA activities are newcomers and experienced career practitioners working in the sectors of school education, higher education, adult education and VET. 

Recognising career guidance as a significant mechanism for empowerment and social inclusion of young people from marginalised groups, the first event within the LTA focused on developing competences of career practitioners working in the school education sector to provide services to young people with disabilities and learning difficulties. The event, titled “Strengthening Capacities of Learners with Disabilities and Learning Difficulties through Career Guidance Services”, was organised by the Foundation Tempus and took place from 20th to 22nd November in Belgrade. Participants from 10 different countries (Serbia, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Austria, Slovakia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and Latvia) had an opportunity to exchange good practices in career guidance services for students from marginalised groups, connect with colleagues from various parts of Europe and develop ideas for future projects aimed at advancing social inclusion through career guidance services. More detailed information on the keynote lecture and workshops delivered during the event can be found in the booklet below.