Professor Ronald G. Sultana, Director of the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Educational Research, has written three research studies on the state of educational and career guidance in the context of the learning society. The first study focuses on guidance in Maltaís education and labour market sector, and is entitled "Lifelong Guidance and the European Challenge: Issues for Malta". The review, which was published by Euroguidance, provides a state of the art review of where guidance is at in Malta, in comparison to other countries in Europe and beyond, along a set of criteria and dimensions that have been used internationally to assess the field. In doing so, it moves on from describing what is taking place, to identifying key gaps in provision as well as challenges that the service has to face. Copies of the report can be obtained from Brian Borg, European Union Programme Unit, Ministry of Education, Floriana (e-mail: brian.a.borg@gov.mt)

John McCarthy, the Chairperson of the European Commissionís Expert Group on Lifelong Guidance (DG Education and Culture) had this to say about the monograph:

"I trust that this report will make a significant contribution to a national strategy for lifelong guidance provision in Malta and act as a catalyst for change so that a more co-ordinated delivery system is provided for citizens, one that is responsive to their needs over their lifetime, and that views them as the major stakeholder in the endeavour of career guidanceÖI salute the work of the author of this report, Professor Ronald Sultana, and his excellent contribution to guidance policy development and research at national, European, and international levels."

Professor Sultanaís second study is entitled "Review of Career Guidance Policies in 11 Acceding and Candidate Countries", and was published by the European Training Foundation, one of the Agencies of the European Union, based in Turin. The comparative study looks at the guidance services that are being offered in acceding and candidate countries, and draws conclusions about their readiness to serve clients in the context of a learning society. It also identifies examples of best practice, and makes recommendations as to how policy makers can provide services that are in tune with such agendas as social equity and inclusion. The study can be downloaded from the following website: http://www.etf.eu.int

A further study by Professor Sultana is currently being published by the European Commission, entitled Guidance Policies in the Knowledge Society - Trends, Challenges and Responses across Europe. This book looks at 29 European countries, and compares the range of strategies that have been developed in order to cater for the educational and career guidance needs of young people and adults, whether unemployed, in education and/or at work. The study will be launched at the meeting of Ministers of Education under the Irish presidency, and a draft version is available on the following website:
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/guidance2003/papers.shtml

Papers from these three studies have been presented in Toronto, Warsaw, Bratislava, Turin, and Berne.