Accompanied by ten teaching and support staff and supported by around 40 social work students, their strengths in teamwork, communication and problem solving were put to the test. The joint project between the school and the university - networked by the district of Uelzen - is intended to give all young people better opportunities for a suitable educational and career path, regardless of their background.
Profil AC Niedersachsen: hands-on career guidance
The project is based on the "Profil AC Niedersachsen" analysis procedure. This career guidance measure is used in schools to assess interdisciplinary skills. Pupils work on various individual and group tasks while trained observers assess important competences such as communication skills, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
At Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, students in the 6th semester of social work took on this role. They observed the young people during the exercises and recorded their impressions in standardised observation sheets. Ostfalia then visited the secondary school for a second wave of observations.
An example from the task pool: the pupils were asked to construct a marble run from sheets of paper and adhesive tape in small teams. What looks playful actually requires a lot: planning, coordinating ideas, finding compromises, reacting flexibly if something doesn't work. It is precisely these skills that are at the centre of the observation. The special feature: the students do not know the young people. This makes the view from the outside more objective. The completed observation forms are later returned to the teachers at Apollonia Oberschule. They serve as a sound basis for further discussions on career guidance and individual support.
Win-win situation for school and university
Both sides benefit from the cooperation between Apollonia Oberschule and Ostfalia University: Teachers receive an additional, professional external assessment of their pupils' skills. This makes it easier to discuss suitable support programmes and career paths.
The social work students can apply their theoretical knowledge directly in practice. Project coordinator Laura Risse from Ostfalia University emphasises: "The students' work in this project is something that can be put to good use directly in practice. Self-efficacy is high and the study experience becomes a real-life experience of later professional tasks."
The observation situation is very similar to the conditions that will later be encountered in school social work, for example: Young people in groups, tasks close to everyday life, limited time, and the need to quickly gain a picture of strengths and support needs.
Research into inclusive vocational guidance
Under the academic direction of Prof. Dr Björn Hermstein, Professor of Educational Sociology at Ostfalia University, the collaboration with Apollonia Oberschule Uelzen is being accompanied by research. Together with Oliver Homann-Stahl, teacher and careers guidance officer at Apollonia Oberschule, processes relating to the transition from school to vocational training or other educational courses are being analysed and further developed. "We are investigating how we can respond even better to the different orientation needs of young people," explains Prof Dr Björn Hermstein. "Inclusive career guidance is crucial, both for the individual development of young people and for securing skilled labour in our region."
The participants are particularly interested in the insights that can be derived from the observations in the profile AC process for the topic of inclusive careers guidance: How can schools and extracurricular partners ensure that all young people - including those with special support needs - receive suitable career guidance programmes?
Strong regional partnership
The project is supported by the district of Uelzen. Education Coordinator Odette Lindhorst, who is responsible for vocational orientation in the education office, was instrumental in initiating the collaboration. This close co-operation between schools, universities and the district creates a strong regional education and support structure. Young people receive guidance at an early stage, teachers are supported in assessing their skills, students can learn in a practical way and the region strengthens its skilled labour base in the long term.
