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Results

Handbook evaluation

The rich data from these focus groups directly informed the creation of the “SupportSphere Handbook,” our first major project result, which aims to equip trainers with those identified competencies. Immediately following its completion, we launched the crucial evaluation phase this past September. To measure the Handbook’s quality and practical relevance, we collected direct, structured feedback from the end-users: the VET trainers themselves. We asked them to thoroughly review the content and complete a dedicated “External Evaluation Survey.” This allowed them to formally assess the handbook’s usability, clarity, and, most importantly, ensure it truly addresses the needs we identified in the focus groups. This feedback is critical as it validates the tool before it becomes the official basis for our next phase, the WP3 training modules.

SupportSphere Handbook:From Research to Practical Tools for Career Counselling

By Fatima Abu Hamam

Supporting young people in making career decisions is a European priority, especially for students in vocational education and training (VET) who face a higher risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). The SupportSphere Handbook is the central output of the project, co-created by the consortium to provide both evidence and practical tools to strengthen career counselling in VET contexts.

From research to synthesis

The work started with a two-step research phase in all four partner countries. Each organisation carried out:

Desk research, analysing national strategies, policies, and practices.

Focus groups, involving students, trainers, and career guidance professionals to capture experiences, expectations, and needs.

The University of Verona coordinated the research by collecting and analysing the results across all countries, producing a comparative synthesis that highlighted both common trends and country-specific features.

Building the handbook

Based on this analysis, the consortium designed the SupportSphere Handbook. It combines:

  • Key findings from desk research and focus groups.
  • Practical tools and methods retrieved from previous EU projects, academic literature, and existing European practices.
  • A structured approach to career counselling in VET

The handbook is organised around five strategic pillars:

  • Self-awareness and autonomy, with tools such as competence portfolios.
  • Experiential learning, including internships, job-shadowing, and project-based activities.
  • Career decision-making support, through interactive methods and peer support.
  • Inclusive ecosystems, involving families, mentors, and local networks.
  • Access to resources and information, integrating digital platforms with human guidance.

A practical resource for professionals

What makes the handbook distinctive is its practical orientation. It offers concrete activities and adaptable tools that teachers, trainers, and counsellors can integrate directly into their practice. The focus is not only on information, but also on the human dimension of counselling: motivation, trust-building, and personal support.

Collective effort, shared impact

The handbook reflects the joint effort of the entire partnership. While each organisation contributed research and expertise, the synthesis and design process turned these inputs into a common resource for Europe. The result is a tool that can guide professionals in different contexts, help prevent dropouts, and strengthen the resilience and employability of young people.

By translating comparative research into concrete instruments, the SupportSphere Handbook connects evidence, practice, and policy. It is a shared achievement of the project consortium and a step forward in building inclusive and effective guidance systems for the next generation.

SupportSphere at the Work Experience – L1WE–INLAV Employment services operator training

By Fatima Abu Hamam

The SupportSphere project was presented during the L L1WE–INLAV course, a regional training programme dedicated to preparing new employment services operator (Operatori del Mercato del Lavoro, OML). The course, coordinated by leading Employment Agencies in the Veneto region, combines 300 hours of classroom learning with a six-month internship, aiming to equip participants with the skills to support job seekers in building personalised career plans and accessing new employment opportunities.

As part of the training, Dr. Fatima Abu Hamam from the University of Verona delivered a teaching session on career counselling for young adults, introducing the SupportSphere Handbook as a concrete tool to guide practice. During her intervention, she explained the objectives and activities of the project, highlighting its European dimension and the contributions from partners in Italy, Spain, Greece, and Belgium.

The handbook was used directly in class as a reference to explore methods and strategies for supporting young people at risk of becoming NEET. Participants engaged with the practical tools included in the handbook, such as competence portfolios, mentoring approaches, and group guidance techniques, gaining insights into how these can be applied in their future work as employment specialists.

At the end of the session, each trainee received a copy of the SupportSphere Handbook, ensuring that the resource will remain available for future use. This dissemination activity not only raised awareness about the project but also integrated its outcomes into a professional training context, strengthening the impact of SupportSphere on local labour market services.