The main objective of the Pledge project was to develop an online school guidance programme with foundation but also attractive to users, encouraging them in the decision-making process. Pledge works from the idea of empowering students to make decisions. It is about offering guidance services for students to improve skills related to Career Management as well as to accompany them in transitions throughout their lives - life-long and life-wide skills necessary to navigate their educational and professional pathways, thus reducing Early Leaving or risk of Early Leaving. The Pledge project and the developed tools aimed to - Offer and allow easy and equal access to online gamified counseling activities, having a structured format for students, schools and families. - To promote through the Pledge guidance programme and assessment tool that students develop and acquire Career Management Skills. - Help all students improve skills and competencies for transitions. Learn to make decisions and manage transitions throughout life. - Promote guidance through tools like I Love Pledge and Your Pledge that accompany the student in the construction of the life and professional project– as a continuous process- not a single moment in time.
Europe continues to be impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and its long-term societal changes. The partnership was inspired to action by the results of an international survey “Career guidance policy and practice in the pandemic” (Cedefop; European Commission; ETF; ICCDPP; ILO; OECD; UNESCO (2020) which discussed the use of online services for guidance. Digital tools and the adaptable services (online, hybrid) is a necessary part of guidance services moving forward In June of 2020 Cedefop made a release which highlighted the risk to gains against Early School Leaving made around Europe. The Cedefop’s ambassadors for tackling early leaving from education and training called for further support to address the needs of learners at risk and ensure their equal access to quality distance learning. Students face challenges, disorientation or misguidance. Elements that contribute are: globalization, technology and its evolution, rapid changes in many business sectors, crisis, etc. The Pledge project provides a gamified online model of academic & career guidance for young people to support as they transition to other stages of education and pathways and assessment and activities to develop Career Management Skills.