Monitoring framework for the National Strategy for Lifelong Guidance 2020–2028

Finland’s National Lifelong Guidance Strategy 2020–2028 states that decisions concerning the organisation and development of guidance services should be based on evidence. Shared monitoring areas and assessment tools are required to produce consistent and comparable information on the accessibility, quality, results and impact of guidance services.

The monitoring framework developed in the project is based on a systemic understanding of lifelong guidance. Guidance is examined at three interconnected levels:

1. public policy and decision-making
2. service arrangements
3. services delivered to and experienced by citizens.

At each level, evaluation follows a shared logic progressing from inputs and processes to results and longer-term impact. The common structure makes it possible to combine information produced at different levels and supports a two-way flow of information between policymaking, service provision and work with service users.

The framework’s meta-criteria and indicators were derived from the six priorities and 19 sub-objectives of the National Lifelong Guidance Strategy. Three complementary questionnaires were developed on the basis of the framework. They address public decision-making, service arrangements and services experienced by users.

The framework has been designed as a flexible tool. It can be used for comprehensive national monitoring, thematic reviews, comparisons across levels, regional and organisational self-assessment, and the production of longitudinal monitoring data.

The design also takes account of European monitoring and evaluation work in lifelong guidance. In particular, the framework is aligned with the evaluation logic and quality-indicator work developed by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, Cedefop. The framework was prepared by a working group appointed by the National Lifelong Guidance Forum in late 2024.

Key results

The project produced a national monitoring framework that provides a shared basis for monitoring the implementation of Finland’s National Lifelong Guidance Strategy.

The main outputs include:

• a set of meta-criteria based on the strategy’s six priorities and 19 sub-objectives
• indicators covering inputs, processes, results and impact
• three complementary assessment questionnaires
• a common evaluation structure for public decision-making, service arrangements and user-facing services
• approaches for national monitoring, thematic evaluation, regional self-assessment and time-series monitoring.

The framework helps identify development needs and integrate information produced across administrative sectors and levels of activity. It strengthens evidence-informed management, transparency and the continuous improvement of guidance services.