2019 Careers Agora : Helping pupils to make an informed choice

Photo caption: H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince during his visit to the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology’s stand – © Manuel Vitali – Government Communication Department

H.S.H. Prince Albert II paid a visit to the various stands at the 4^th Careers Agora, held on Tuesday 22 January 2019 in the Rainier III Auditorium. The Sovereign Prince was accompanied by H.E. Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State, Mr Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Mr Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Mgr Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, Ms Isabelle Bonnal, Director of Education, Youth and Sport, Mr Stéphane Valeri, President of the National Council, and a number of other notable figures from the Principality.

This information day, which was organised entirely by the Department of Education, Youth and Sport, formed part of efforts to improve careers guidance in schools.

Pupils enjoyed a unique opportunity to hear representatives from a range of careers and business sectors talk about their professional experience.

Nearly 850 secondary school pupils met professionals from various sectors including education, sport, health and social care, science and technology, communication, the hotel and catering industry, trade, arts and culture, defence and justice, architecture and urban development, and construction and real estate.

This year, there was a particular focus on equal access for men and women to careers in construction and public works. New attractions included a stand presented by Monaco’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to inform pupils about careers in the humanitarian and international solidarity sectors.

In response to the wishes of pupils, talks were also offered for the first time this year. Organised by careers advisors from the Principality’s schools and led by experts and representatives from various areas of study, the talks covered the following topics: university study, preparatory classes for France’s prestigious grandes écoles, engineering schools, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in hotel management, BTS vocational training qualifications in the manufacturing and service sectors, and DUT postsecondary diplomas in science and technology subjects. Following the talks, pupils had a chance to talk directly to the presenters.

This information day is an important occasion for pupils in Year 10 (3^ème) and Year 12 (1^ère) as they reach a point in their education where they must make decisions about their career plans. To improve the support provided to pupils at this stage and ensure that they are fully engaged in shaping their futures, the 4^th Careers Agora helped them to clearly identify the links between their current studies in school and their plans for future training, based on informed choices.

As part of the reforms to the Baccalaureate curriculum, from Year 11 (2^nde) onwards, 54 hours per year are now devoted to answering pupils’ questions about their future studies and careers, and helping them to finalise their plans.

With this in mind, the Principality’s lycées focus on three priorities:

• - Learning about the world of work and how to navigate it
• - Understanding higher education courses and where they lead
• - Developing a career plan

As part of a collaborative, partnership approach based on the individual needs and aspirations of each pupil, coordination and follow-up of classroom reflection and activities is carried out by a class teacher working closely with careers guidance staff and the team at the Academic Counselling and Education Resource Centre, as well as the rest of the teaching staff and the school librarian.

This approach is backed up by specific careers-focused activities that can take place throughout the school year, such as individual sessions with the careers advisor, themed workshops, visits to companies and work placements, for example.