Project GOAL

This website presents the project GOAL evaluation results. GOAL stands for Guidance and Orientation for Adult Learners. It is an Erasmus+ funded project that sought to develop new models or expand existing models of guidance and orientation for low-educated adults in six countries: Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Iceland, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Slovenia. Project GOAL ran from February 2015 to January 2018, and was coordinated by the Flemish Government’s Department of Education and Training. The evaluation was carried out by the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) in partnership with local evaluation teams in each country. Details about the project set-up and implementation can be found on the project website.

Key Findings

service quality

From a programme-level standpoint, a high quality service:

Is bespoke to the individual client’s needs
Provides the information and support that clients need to navigate the complex world of adult education
Empowers clients
Is built on highly competent counsellors
Is based on a counselling model that matches programme resources to client need
Uses the right tool at the right time for the right client
Produces and uses high quality data
Uses partnerships to improve the quality of outreach and to support a holistic approach to client welfare.

In terms of policy, the key factors influencing service quality were:

The challenges associated with structurally embedding GOAL in the broader service landscape
The low policy status of adult education in general and guidance for low-educated adults in particular

Funding challenges and their impacts

Iceland

"GOAL interview: a client came to discuss a program for validation of employability skills, in which she is going to participate."

"In-house discussions with other counsellors and project managers on an unexpected issue with a student. We tried to solve the issue together. We had to contact another school."

Lithuania

“Presentation for unemployed people about possibilities to get involved into the Goal project and get free of charge orientation and guidance.”

“Orientation and guidance of adult people. 2 clients are consulted: they are unemployed and have plans for learning a new profession in order to find a job.“

Netherlands

“The prison population and educational needs of the detainees are far from homogeneous.”

“Usually, there are 6 to 8 detainees at a time, each with an individual program. I guide them. The guidance can be focused on basic education, vocational education or specific courses detainees are taking at that time”

Slovenia

"Working with clients gives me energy and brings me joy, because between individual sessions I can see progress, changes, new beliefs, enrolment in education programmes and I can build good relationships with my clients."

"The feeling that I do a lot of good for my clients is priceless."

Czech Republic

“At the start of every session, counsellors try to gather information about the client, his or her position within the family and wider friendship circles, and his or her health. They also explore the client’s feelings, ideas and motivation.”

“Based on the client’s answers, the counsellor selects ways to proceed in order to meet the client’s needs and goals.”

Flanders

"All information, agreements made and steps taken during sessions are written down in the registration system"

“Even the names of persons clients have been talking about are registered in order to remember the whole communication line and, more importantly, to avoid them having to say things twice. It creates a sense of trust with our clients.”

Project GOAL

Key Findings

service quality

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COUNSELLOR

TESTIMONIALS

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Results by country

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