A national adult guidance development programme worth more than EUR 20 million was recently carried out in Finland. “Usefulness and needs as the basis for adult guidance, using a development programme on information, guidance and counselling services” was a European Social Fund development programme within the third priority that was implemented through national and regional projects in 2008-2014. The goals of the project were 

1) developing the operational practices of guidance and counselling services for adult guidance and counselling professionals and adult trainers, 

2) strengthening the skills and 

3) recognition and accreditation of adult students’ prior learning. 

 

Adult guidance and counselling services were developed through more than 30 regional Door to Learning (Opin ovi) projects. The projects belonging to the Door to Learning programme produced new kinds of models and operational methods for adult customer guidance and counselling: both network-based service models and flexible, knowledgeable guidance networks. It gave birth to a new kind of know-how: not only basic know-how about networks, but also a networked approach to guidance work. In conjunction with the development work, many guidance tools and guidelines were created, and several agreements entered into that guaranteed sustained collaboration and actions.

 

The objective was to create a one-stop shop guidance and counselling service available for all citizens that would help people considering applying for adult education. After the projects, some regional services survived while some were terminated due to lack of funding.