CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND WELLBEING: A FOCUS ON YOUTH IN SCHOOLS
UK and Canadian Collaborative Research Pilot Project April 2024 – December 2024
Background
Since the pandemic, there has been growing worldwide interest in individuals’ well-being. In 2021 -2022, dmh associates (UK) successfully undertook and published research findings on adults’ career development and wellbeing. The team worked with closely careers advisers/career development practitioners from Wales, Scotland and Canada.
Outcomes included: A ‘Career Development and Wellbeing Toolkit’ to inform and support practitioners’ work with adults 18+. The team published in academic and professional journals designed to disseminate key findings e.g. The British Journal of Guidance and Counselling Special Issue on ‘Praxis in Guidance and Counselling: New Frontiers‘, Special Issue Vol. 52, Issue 1, pp.36-51 Embedding wellbeing in career development practice: trialling a new structure for guidance conversations in Scotland and Wales
Focus
This year, a collaborative research team from the UK and Canada, led by Associate Professor Deirdre Hughes OBE, alongside Senior Associates Liane Hambly and Dr. Chris Percy (UK), together with Sareena Hopkins, Executive Director of the Canadian Career Development Foundation, Dave Redekopp, President of Life-Role Development Group Ltd in Edmonton, and Mike Huston, Registered Psychologist and counselor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, will investigate the relationship between career development and wellbeing among young people in secondary schools across Scotland, Wales, England, and Canada, in collaboration with a group of dedicated and skilful volunteer careers practitioners and managers. Between April 2024 – December 2024, they will:
- investigate how careers advisers introduce wellbeing conversations during guidance interview sessions with young people aged 13 – 19 (delivered either offline or online in a range of school settings) with the ultimate goal of enhancing career education, guidance and counselling experiences for all young people in schools.
This research pilot project adheres to: BERA code of ethical guidelines for educational research, April 2024 See also: dmh associates’ ethics statement
This research pilot is currently being undertaken on a ‘pro bono’ basis – all researchers and practitioners are working on this because they passionately believe in improving individuals’ life chances through effective career guidance/counselling/career development conversations. They are committed to continuous improvement, enhanced quality services, and ensuring no-one gets left behind in their search for meaningful learning and work opportunities.
If your organisation has similar values and interests and would like to consider sponsoring our ongoing research and publications plan:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 00 (0) 7533 545057
Thank you!