Quality assurance and evidence in career guidance in Europe: counting what is measured or measuring what counts?

Quality assurance (QA) and Evidence in career guidance are increasingly seen as an indispensable part of explaining and even legitimising career guidance activities and policies. It is no longer sufficient to assume that career guidance or career education has an impact. This has to be demonstrated. This paper provides an overview of how and why QA approaches are featuring ever more significantly on the agenda of many European Countries. A particular focus is the link between particular quantitatively oriented QA approaches and the effects that this has upon guidance policies and practices. The paper concludes by raising some of the wider QA issues that need to be addressed.