Sparčiai vystantis šalies ekonomikai, nuolat kintant darbo rinkai, augant kvalifikuotos darbo jėgos nutekėjimo į kitas ES šalis mastams, itin aktualus tampa individo parengimo pereiti iš švietimo į darbo rinkos sistemą procesas. Viena šio proceso sudedamųjų dalių yra profesinis informavimas. Profesinio informavimo svarba itin aktualizuojama padedant besimokančia jam surasti savo kelią švietimo sistemoje bei greitai kintančioje darbo rinkoje. Straipsnyje, analizuojant mokslinę literatūrą bei kiekybinio tyrimo rezultatus, aptariama profesinio informavimo, kaip pirminės profesinio orientavimo grandies, samprata, analizuojamas mokinių požiūris j teikiamas profesinio informavimo paslaugas bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose.

The article analyses the objectives posed by the knowledge society to vocational counselling, reviews the importance of the development of vocational counselling services, discussed in the strategic documents prepared by the European Commission and Lithuania. The problems of vocational counselling are presented underlying the relevance of vocational counsellor professional education, seeking to ensure the effectiveness of counselling services. The measures devoted to the solution of vocational counsellor training problems are introduced.

Naujas požiūris į profesinį konsultavimą - permanentinį, trunkantį visą gyvenimą procesą - skatina ieškoti naujų galimybių visoje šiuolaikinėje profesinio konsultavimo sistemoje. Profesinio orientavimo ir konsultavimo paslaugas Lietuvoje jau daugiau kaip dešimtmetį Lietuvoje teikia Darbo rinkos mokymo tarnybos, skatinančios žmones mokytis, padedančios priimti informacija paremtus realistinius profesinio tobulėjimo sprendimus, ugdančios universaliuosius veik-os ir socialinius gebėjimus. Straipsnyje aptariama Lietuvosdarbo rinkos mokymo tarnybos patirtis, įgyta teikiant šias paslaugas įvairioms tikslinėms asmenų grupėms, nepriklausomai nuo jų amžiaus, išsilavinimo, darbo patirties ar socialinės situacijos, bei siekiant užtikrinti optimalią kiekvieno gebėjimų, poreikių ir interesų raidą, prisitaikant prie esamų mokymosi ir užimtumo galimybių.

The Paper, while analysing scientific sources, relevant documentation and results of the quantitative research, considers work opportunities of social educators within the vocational information system. It also investigates the concept of vocational information as the initial step of vocational guidance, reviews functional responsibilities of a social educator as a vocational information counsellor and realisation of these functions in education institutions. The Paper also contains the analysis of questionnaire filled in by 8–12 grade pupils of comprehensive schools, their parents, class tutors and heads of schools. It revealed that the role of social educators in rendering vocational information services to pupils of comprehensive schools was insufficient and, consequently identified the necessity to include the development of vocational information competences into the curricula of study programmes of social educators.

The Paper, while analysing scientific sources, relevant documentation and results of the quantitative research, considers work opportunities of social educators within the vocational information system. It also investigates the concept of vocational information as the initial step of vocational guidance, reviews functional responsibilities of a social educator as a vocational information counsellor and realisation of these functions in education institutions. The Paper also contains the analysis of questionnaire filled in by 8–12 grade pupils of comprehensive schools, their parents, class tutors and heads of schools. It revealed that the role of social educators in rendering vocational information services to pupils of comprehensive schools was insufficient and, consequently identified the necessity to include the development of vocational information competences into the curricula of study programmes of social educators.

Vocational information is important for development of Lifelong Learning strategy, which is tightly connected with education and social policies’ goals. Its economic dimension strengthens the imperative for quality assurance in provision of service since proper development of vocational information, in a long run, makes a positive influence on county’s welfare. The goal of this paper is to discuss the opportunities for quality assessment and improvement of Lithuanian Centres for Vocational Information (CVI). The goal was achieved in three steps: 1) importance of vocational information as well as structure and main functions of the CVI were presented, 2) aims, process and essential parameters of quality assessment of the CVI were validated, 3) validity of quality assessment indicators was determined and guidelines for quality improvement were suggested. Meta-analysis of surveys, studies, other documents of the topic as well as empirical survey of quality assessment of three hundred eight CIV were used for achievement research goal. The main clients of the CVI are pupils. CVI staff performs such functions as collection and administration of information on educational system(s) and labour market, presentation of information for clients providing them with the possibilities to take rational decisions for the choice of first occupation and career designing. If to assure the quality of service, it should be assessed periodically; the assessment data brings the guidelines for improvement. In short run the quality of vocational information services should not be assessed according to clients’ achievements (e.g. number of their decisions). The CVI quality assessment consists of self-assessment and external assessment in five dimensions: material and financial resources, administration of information, provision of information, external affaires, and competence of staff. [...]

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama profesinio orientavimo objekto išplėtimo galimybės ir perspektyvos siekiant pritaikyti profesinį orientavimą žmonių išteklių vadybos praktikoje. Analizuojami atliktų taikomųjų tyrimų rezultatai, atskleidžiantys profesinio orientavimo pritaikymą įmonėse, įstaigose, organizacijose darbuotojų kaitai mažinti, jų perkvalifikavimui, kvalifikacijos tobulinimui ir tęstiniam profesiniam mokymui.