Significant career change to software development. A life-course perspective

T The present study, based on qualitative data, investigates the significant career change through the life-course lens. Biographical interviews were conducted with people who changed their profession and the findings were characteristically reflective and subjective, foregrounding the participants’ interpretations of their layers of reality. Different type of resources: individual (Agency), community (Networking), and society (Labour market) were taken into account and the endeavour enabled to capture the triggers involved in career change process. The distinction between voluntary and involuntary career change decision helps to understand the reasons for which the change is chosen. There are major differences between those who leave involuntary their desired profession and those who discover that they have a calling for the software development. Moreover, the results advocate for the importance of early vocational counselling. On the other hand, evidence of discrimination encountered by new programmers could be addressed by HR departments in the IT organizations

THE IMPACT OF THE TRAINER’ COMMUNICATIONAL STYLE ON ADULT LEARNERS ‘LEARNING STYLES

Today, it is clear to everyone that regardless of the studies completed, the process of continuous improvement is necessary depending on the field in which they work. Each country has designed specific strategies in the field of adult education, as part of lifelong learning. Our research had the aim to highlight, beyond the type of training program for adults, the relationship between the communication style of trainers involved in adult education and the learning style of adult learners. In our research we used: a) the “Questionnaire S.C. (Analysis of Communication Style) b) the Romanian version of “Learning style Questionnaire”; c) non-directive interviews; d) statistical processing methods. The results that came from the data allow us to see the influences of the trainers’ communicational style upon the learning style of adult learners during the training sessions. The conclusions are significant for developing proper vocational counselling programs for trainers that are involved in training adult learners.

Supported employment programme for persons with severe mental disorders in India: A feasibility study

Background: A number of persons with severe mental illnesses are unable to prepare for, find or keep a job due to factors linked to their illness as well as psychosocial issues. Aim: To test the feasibility of a supported employment programme to help persons with severe mental disorders obtain and sustain employment. Methods: A supported employment programme was developed for persons with severe mental disorders with components of (a) assessment of vocational potential, (b) vocational counselling, (c) networking and liaison with prospective employers, (d) job-related training and placement and (e) continued support for 6 months. Job placement status, social occupational functioning and disability (quantitative data) and benefits of enrolling in the employment programme (qualitative data) were assessed. Results: A total of 40 employers were liaised with for providing job placement and reasonable accommodation. Out of 63 participants recruited into the study, 32 (50.8%) participants were placed in competitive jobs, placement was actively attempted for 17 (27.0%) participants, 7 (11.1%) were referred for skill training and 7 (11.1%) dropped out from the study. The disability score significantly reduced and socio-occupational functioning significantly improved in those who were placed over a period of 6 months. Conclusion: The supported employment programme was found to be feasible as it showed good placement rates and improvement in socio-occupational functioning and disability scores

Caracteristici psihometrice ale versiunii românești a chestionarului vocațional „Holland“

The paper discusses the cultural adaptation of the Self-Directed-Search Questionnaire (SDS – Holland’s test)in Romania, describing the translation and adaptation process, the structure of the Romanian normative sampleand the psychometric characteristics of the Romanian version of the measure. The paper alse addresses aspectslike the reliability of the measure – both as internal consistency and test-retest – as well as comparisons with theU.S. normative sample. Some of the positive implications of using the SDS for vocational counselling, derivedfrom its psychometric power, are pointed out.

Ontological aspects of the educational space

The article deals with the problem questions of modern Russian formation. The author opens and analyzes the interrelations which are available in educational space. The estimated characteristic of educational space and its components are given in the research. The author considers questions of perfection of an educational system and a payment of the faculty. The revealing of the importance of vocational counselling finds the place in the article. To the critical analysis is exposed componential model of education. The author in the negative plan gives an estimation of constant checks, accreditations, etc. The role of a humanitarian component in a technical university is shown.

Acquiring work experience for vocational education graduates in Greece

Work Experience for Technical Education Graduates was a programme launched in Greece to provide education, vocational counselling and work experience to people aged up to 29 years who resided in regions of the highest youth unemployment. It was organised and managed by a consortium of social partners established for the purpose. Enterprises were given the opportunity to employ graduates as interns to extend their workforce and to benefit from fresh ideas. The programme was quite a complex one with very limited time available (just under one year). There is some evidence nevertheless of positive effects on various levels although it is too early to assess the numbers and sustainability of new jobs created.

Vocational Interests and Job Choices Following an Acquired Disability: Results and Implications of an Idiographic Study

This idiographic study explored the value of six vocational interest types (realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional) for guiding a person's occupational choices. To that end, five rehabilitation clients who attended for vocational assessment following a personal injury (e.g., motor vehicle or general accident or work injury) reported on their vocational interests. Participants indicated their preferences (like or dislike) for 77 occupations. Altogether, they made from 5 to 27 choices. A profiling procedure indicated that clients reported more occupational dislikes rather than likes. Of the vocational interest types the choices in realistic, investigative, artistic and enterprising domains were endorsed more than those in social or conventional domains. It was not clear that the six vocational interest types determined occupational choice following an injury. Instead, occupational dislikes may provide more useful data for vocational counselling.