What is IAEVG?

The International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG) is the worldwide counsellors' association and represents individuals as well as national and regional associations concerned with educational and vocational guidance on all continents.

The Mission of IAEVG

Aims of Guidance

The aims of educational and vocational guidance are to assist students and adults in making their personal decisions about learning and work. This is achieved by helping people to:

1. understand and appreciate their skills and abilities
2. relate effectively with others
3. explore career alternatives
4. develop appropriate plans for educational and career management
5. promote better vocational qualifications at all levels
6. contribute to equal access for girls and women in education and work
7. integrate successfully in society and the labour market

Therefore, the Mission of IAEVG is to:

1. advocate that all people who need and want educational and vocational guidance and counselling can receive it from a competent and recognised professional
2. recommend a basic quality standard of service to be provided to students and adults
3. recommend the minimum training and other qualifications that all counsellors in educational and vocational guidance should have
4. promote training and continuing education programs for counselling and guidance practitioners
5. assist in the preparation of appropriate and effective methods and materials for guidance
6. develop methods of evaluation of counselling and guidance
7. promote the adoption and enforcement of a code of ethics for counsellors and for guidance services

Ethical Standards

Every member of IAEVG is committed to the Ethical Standards of IAEVG which were approved in 1995 to ensure quality of guidance delivery and services as well as appropriate behaviour towards clients. These Ethical Standards serve as a guideline for national counsellors' associations all over the world who intend to develop their own ethical standards.

1. to promote and improve communication between people and organizations active in educational and vocational guidance
2. to encourage the continuing professional development of ideas, practice and research in the field of guidance and counselling
3. to collect and disseminate information on the latest educational and vocational guidance practice, study and research

Publications

As well as regular Newsletters in English, French, German and Spanish, IAEVG publishes a professional journal," International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance(IJEVG)", which are both distributed to members free of charge.

Research and other Activities

IAEVG completed for UNESCO, a study of "Vocational Guidance for Equal Access and Opportunity for Girls and Women in Technical and Vocational Education" which is published as number 6 in the UNEVOC/UNESCO series of studies on Technical and Vocational Education. Number 1 in the series, Policies and Programs for Educational and Vocational Guidance, was written by Stuart Conger, a past Vice President of the Association.

Currently, a joint paper on Guidance Best Practices is being prepared for UNESCO in co-operation with the International Counselling Association (ICA).

There is also ongoing co-operation between IAEVG on study projects with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Labour Office (ILO). The General Assembly of IAEVG has approved the development of International Counsellor Qualification Standards. Work on this project began in 2000 and will lead to internationally recognised standards for Guidance Counsellors

Meetings

IAEVG and its member associations held annual conferences and seminars. IAEVG conferences took place in April 2000, Perth, Australia; August 2000, Berlin, Germany; November 2000, Valencia, Venezuela; March 2001, Vancouver, Canada; September 2001, Paris, France. Forthcoming conferences: May 2002, Warshaw, Poland; January 2003, Wellington, New Zealand; September 2003, Switzerland. In addition, member associations have their own national or regional conferences.

Membership of IAEVG

Members are usually national counsellors’ associations, guidance institutions and individual members. The member associations represent more than 20,000 counsellors. In some countries, public agencies for vocational guidance and Ministries of Education and Labour are also members.

Board of Directors

Members of the Board are elected for a four year term of office. At present they represent the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Slovenia, Spain, The United Kingdom, and The United States of America. The Board meets at least once a year.

Officers

Members of the IAEVG Executive Committee are elected by the Board of Directors for a period of four years. The current Executive Committee comprises: Dr Bernhard Jenschke, President, Germany; Dr Bryan Hiebert, Vice President, Canada; Dra Elvira Repetto, Vice President, Spain;

Dr Peter Plant, Vice President, Denmark; Ms Lyn Barham, Treasurer, UK; Ms Linda Taylor, Secretary General, UK

How to Join

If you would like to join, please complete the attached form and return it