Access to Vocational Guidance for People at Risk of Social Exclusion.

This document contains 7 papers that evolved from 44 case studies of access to vocational guidance for people at risk of social exclusion in 5 European countries. The following papers are included: "Introduction" (Pamela Clayton); "Access to Vocational Guidance in Italy" (Silvana Greco, Marco Maiello); "Access to Vocational Guidance in Ireland" (Mary Ward, Elmer Kelly); "Access to Vocational Guidance in the United Kingdom" (Pamela Clayton, Paul McGill); "Access to Vocational Guidance in Finland" (Eija Makela, Johanna Hulkko); "Access to Vocational Guidance in the Czech Republic" (Robert Troska, Vavrinec Fojcik, D. Machackova, Lenka Sinorova, Miroslav Kostka, Pamela Clayton); and "Conclusions" (Pamela Clayton). The following are among the topics discussed: the problem of social exclusion; the role of lifelong learning and vocational guidance and counseling in preventing social exclusion; barriers to vocational guidance and what can be done to eliminate them; and educational and labor market policies favoring adult groups at risk of social exclusion. Each report also includes case studies and country-specific recommendations. The bibliography contains 305 references. Appended are the following: lists of case study locations and the case studies by target group; interview schedules; and list of 77 useful Web sites. (MN)