The Human Resources Development Centre at the Economic Institute Maribor, in cooperation with partner organisations, performs development projects in increasing employability of population, development of local labour market and promotion of lifelong learning. With the help of European, national and regional funds the population of Podravje is offered a cost-free access to knowledge through different work-shops, trainings and counselling adjusted to the needs of the target groups and users.

The youth and the unemployed are one of our major target groups. Multiple years of experience in this area show us that career orientation in Slovenia lacks a systematic and structured approach, and is not given enough emphasis in the education system. Slovenia lacks a base institution that would cover the development and implementation of career orientation as a whole, and would generate an appropriate supportive environment (tools and materials) for all who need additional information in this area.

We try to improve the lack of career orientation in secondary schools, at least partially, through different project activities. In 2005, we prepared various workshops on career planning, personal growth, job-seeking and entrepreneurship for secondary school students. We also organized the fourth employment congress (fair) in Maribor. For many young people this was the first contact with employers and the working conditions in general. In the framework of the »career centre«, different tools were available for young job-seekers to more easily decide on their future studies or employment.

Due to the fact that young people do not get enough information about their career orientation during formal education, our programme tries to partially fill the gap, and complements the school curriculum. If schools will not start a more active approach towards career orientation programmes, it is reasonable that our cooperation in this field will become wider and will be financially integrated into the system. The fact, that young people prefer nonformal education, due to being more "relaxed" than formal classes, also speaks in favour of this option. Young people are encouraged to actively participate in the process, which is another incentive for them to start engaging into career guidance as soon as possible.

In preparing workshops materials counsellors are left to their own resourcefulness. Therefore, closer cooperation with organisations active in this field would be welcome. Cooperation could take the form of exchanging materials and tools, and setting uniform standards on the quality of implementation.