Career and Further Training Guidance

Within the framework of lifelong learning, lifelong career and further training guidance has become increasingly important in recent years. It helps to safeguard the individual right to education and to create greater permeability and equality of opportunity within the education system. Career and further training guidance in Germany remains highly diverse due to the multitude of institutions and responsibilities, as well as differing legal regulations. Since 2020, the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit – BA) has been offering Germany-wide career and further training guidance for working people as part of its own “Career Guidance in Working Life” (‘Berufsberatung im Erwerbsleben’) programme, advising them on, among other things, individual further training opportunities and options for obtaining a vocational qualification later in life. The BA’s national continuing education portal “meinNOW” makes it easier for individuals interested in continuing education and employers to access information on vocational continuing education.

Academic Guidance

Within the framework of lifelong learning, educational guidance has become increasingly important in recent years. It is perceived as a prerequisite for the assurance of the individual right to education and creating more permeability and equal opportunities in the education system. Despite increased efforts, given the numerous institutions and competences and the different legal rules, educational guidance is still very heterogeneous.

Psychological Counselling

For students on continuing education courses, for example, there are psychosocial counselling services offered by the Studierendenwerke. Further information can be found in the chapter on guidance and counselling in higher education.