In 2006, a specific component of the MEDA-ETE project was designed by ETF to support career guidance policies in the MEDA region. This project generated a number of outputs, such as country and cross-country analyses of career guidance policies, as well as the establishment of a regional network of policy makers in career guidance in the MEDA region, which is supported by a virtual community/discussion forum on guidance.

Although the perspective of lifelong guidance is very new for the MEDA countries and far from being feasible in the short term, a number of broad themes and needs emerge from the country and cross-country analyses of the MEDA region:

			Improving the comprehensiveness and quality of career information
			Establishing career education more strongly within the school curriculum
			Extending career guidance services more broadly
			Ensuring that such provision is strongly grounded in the socio-cultural context
			Developing the competencies of career guidance staff
			Identifying a focal point for strategic leadership across the career guidance field
			Enhancing cross-sectoral and regional cooperation.

In all countries there is a need for enhanced cooperation between education and labour market administrative bodies, which would be beneficial for a coherent vision of more effective career guidance services.

The MEDA career guidance network, launched by the ETF and composed of national experts and policy makers from each of the ten participating Mediterranean countries, should function as a knowledge network on career guidance for the MEDA region and as a stimulating factor for career guidance development at the national levels.

Career guidance conference

A conference on ‘Career guidance development in Egypt’ was organised in the framework of the ETF project on ‘Strengthening the development of career guidance in Egypt’ in May 2008.

It focused on the wider dissemination and discussion of a draft concept paper on career guidance developed by the National Task Force in 2007. This Task Force, established on a voluntary basis, is composed of high representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Manpower and Migration and other members from key institutions and operators that are active in the field of career guidance.

It included a presentation and a discussion on the building blocks of a career guidance system in Egypt, such as the concept paper on career guidance, a formal National Task Force and the piloting of career education and guidance in the TVET system in Egypt.

A second presentation focused on the demand for developing career guidance services. Conclusions for next steps in career guidance development in Egypt were presented by representatives from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Manpower and Migration at the end of the conference.