I took part in the activities within the framework of the Action “Critical Perspectives on Career and Career Guidance” (COCAG) CA23112, carried out by European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) and funded by the European Union, between 22/12/2025 and 29/06/2026.
This comprehensive four-year Action aims to critically examine the concepts of “career” and “career guidance” in the contemporary world in order to understand the complex relationship between individual psychology, technological changes, and political economy. Proceeding from the reality that, under the influence of globalisation, digitalisation, and neoliberal policies, working life has ceased to be a “single moment of decision” and transformed into a lifelong complex structure, the project aims to rethink existing career paradigms on the basis of social justice and equity. The study will open up for discussion how career guidance can be constructed not merely as a tool adapting individuals to market conditions, but also as a critical mechanism contributing to the vision of a fairer future.
The working groups I was a member of within this international network, and the main issues they focused on, were as follows:
- The Challenges and Changes in Career in the Contemporary World (WG1): In this group, which examines the scientific basis of the project, it is aimed to research how shifts in the global political economy (technological transformations, precarity, climate crisis, etc.) reflect on individuals’ experience of work and career. By examining individuals’ changing aspirations and career trajectories, the objective is to analyse how existing “career scripts” evolve in this new context and the impact of this transformation on the political economy.
- Policy Responses to Contemporary Challenges to Individuals’ Careers (WG2): In this group, where policymakers are involved in the process, how education and labour market policies respond to the changing perception of career is addressed. Specifically, the aim is to examine the integration of career guidance policies with lifelong learning strategies, and to develop new policy proposals regarding the role of the state and institutions in supporting individuals during periods of uncertainty and crisis (e.g., post-pandemic or economic fluctuations).
To access the details of the Action, please click on the image below.
