Welcome to the 3rd module of the UOM course! This module will discuss the Happenstance Learning Theory and will focus on its implications for counseling interventions with NEETs (young people Not in Employment, Education, Training).
The module starts with a brief presentation of the NEET’s profile, acknowledging their diversified profiles across countries and regions. Then, we will proceed with the factors that form the vulnerability of this target group and discuss the concept of “Neo-NEETs” considering also the current and future impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Starting from narrative approaches in career counselling and vocational guidance, we discuss the main features of these approaches, as well as the emphasis on the qualitative assessment used in narrative interventions. We will then move to the Happenstance Learning Theory and confer on the implications of this theory in career counselling and vocational guidance interventions. Namely, the focus is laid on the Planned Happenstance Skills (curiosity, persistence, flexibility, optimism and risk-taking) and in the subsequent Planned Happenstance Career Inventory which quantitatively assesses these skills. However, the module will also address an experiential activity/technique for the qualitative assessment of individuals’ attitude towards their future trajectories, the unknown and change, which can be applied to our beneficiaries (including those who are NEETs, but not only limited to them). The activity titled “This is your future life” has been created by Mentzo, invites participants to reflect on their future goals in given time frames, so that counsellors can further adapt based on the context of their beneficiaries and of their needs.
File_1_ PPT_Presentation of the Module.pdf
Here you may find a report of the European Commission which illustrates the way that we can effectively outreach to NEETs, one of the most important challenges. The report discusses existing practices, lessons learned, challenges and success factors, as well as some “top tips” with regards to practical implications.
REPORT_Effective outreach to NEETs – Experience from the ground.pdf
Here you may find the European Commission’s Practitioners’ toolkit on the Sustainable Activation of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). The toolkit includes concrete guidance and tools for Public Employment Services to assess the NEET challenge and set priorities, draft and implement an Action Plan and develop new tools, measures and competences from scratch.