Supporting Young People in Choosing their Vocational or Academic Pathways

Context: This paper provides an overview and commentary on the four papers in the symposium focused on the potential of digital tools in career guidance. The first paper, "Killers and Socialisers – Game Types and Gender-Sensitive Career Planning" by Christine Hoffelner, Elena Makarova, and Christof Nägele, based on the www.digibe.ch project, highlights the potential of skills gained through computer gaming for career planning. The second paper, "Gender-Sensitive Career Guidance" by Jana Lindner and Elena Makarova, draws on insights from the www.like2be.ch project and shows that online gender-sensitive career guidance can be effective when integrated into a solid pedagogical framework. The third paper, "Innovation of the Game Portal ThiGro" by Sonja Susnic, demonstrates how online tools can promote reflection, problem-solving, communication, and inclusion skills. The fourth paper, " Problems and solutions in the guidance process for re-entering education and creating personal pathways" by María-José Pérez Albo, explores how digital media can serve as a vital resource by identifying key barriers to reintegration and trace different digital resources that contribute to tailored guidance pathways. Approach: Taken together, these projects use different methodological and conceptual approaches, providing a multi-perspective view on the integration of digital tools in career guidance. Conclusions: The four contributions demonstrate the potential and added value of online and digital tools in improving career guidance practices.