Evaluating the Impact of Career Development Services in Canada: The Perceptions of Managers and Program Administrators

Abstract Academics and policy makers have clearly identified the urgent need to strengthen the evidence base attesting to the efficacy of career development services. However, it is unclear whether those providing career development services also recognize the importance of evaluation and are able to engage in evaluation in an effective manner. This article presents research that examines the value agency managers and program administrators place on evaluation and the perceived barriers they experience in conducting evaluations. This article also proposes solutions to the barriers to evaluation described by agency managers and program administrators. Academics and policy makers have identified the urgent need to strengthen the evidence base attesting to the efficacy of career development services. However, it is unclear as to whether those providing front-line career development services understand the importance of evaluation and are able to effectively engage in the evaluation process. The purpose of the research described in this article was to examine the importance managers and program administrators place on evaluating the efficacy of their services. The purpose of this research was to also examine whether managers and program administrators experience any barriers impeding their evaluation efforts. This article will examine the results and implications of this research. As well, it will provide remedies to the barriers described by agency managers and program administrators

Career Coaching Across the Curriculum: Enhancing the Career Competencies of the 21st Century Learner

This article examines the effectiveness of a pilot project offered by members of the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge entitled, ―Career Coaching Across the Curriculum: Integrating Career Development into Classroom Instruction‖. It explores whether this pilot project effectively prepares pre-service teachers to integrate career education into curriculum. It also explores whether this pilot project contributes to the attainment of important career development competencies for students in the Kindergarten-Grade 12 educational system