Representatives from the European Training Foundation (ETF) met in Inverness this week as part of a week long study visit to learn more about career guidance services in Scotland.

Based in Turin, Italy and working on behalf of the European Union, the ETF assists the EU partner countries in developing quality education and training systems and putting them into practice. 

Thirteen delegates from the Middle East met with senior managers of Careers Scotland in the Thistle Hotel yesterday. They included senior education and employment officials from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Accompanying the group was Professor Ronald Sultana, Director of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research, University of Malta. 

The choice of Scotland for the international study visit came about as a result of a meeting between Helmut Zelloth, ETF and Liz Galashan, Careers Scotland at an international symposium on career development and public policy in Sydney Australia earlier this year.

Sessions were designed for delegates to learn and understand more about the career guidance system in Scotland, whilst sharing expertise and giving advice.  Catriona Eagle, Careers Scotland Highlands and Islands director gave a talk about the organisation, followed by other key staff from the team.  The delegates also visited Inverness College, the UHI offices and Inverness Royal Academy to get an overview of local developments.  

Liz Galashan, Careers Scotland Highlands and Islands Enterprise senior manager said:  "We are delighted that the ETF have decided to come to Scotland for their annual study visit.  The Careers Scotland service compares well with leading good practice across the world and is making impressive progress.  The ETF's visit to Scotland gives us a great opportunity to learn from each other and we regard the international collaboration a key part of business development. We hope some ETF members will come back to Scotland next year when we host the next international symposium in Aviemore in October 2007."

Catriona Eagle said: "This is a great chance for international policy makers and public agencies in the career sector to share their experiences.  Governments worldwide are becoming aware of the need for more and better career guidance services to meet the needs of the economies and education of the 21st century."