THE FUTURE ROLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION’S CAREER SERVICES OFFICES (CSO) IN GREECE: CURRENT TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

The deterioration mentioned in the modern labor market in combination with the present unpleasant trends in the broader socioeconomic environment raise the major issue of employability where huge conversation has emerged in recent years regarding the effectiveness of the existent mechanisms and their occupational intensive services provided for all the interested parties.
Representing some of the most important institutional mechanisms in the Greek educational and economic environment, Career Services Offices (CSF) operating in the framework of the higher academic institutions should provide the potential to expand the access both to jobs vacancies and to career information/ guidance.
However both the current unfavorable economic situation and the changes occurred in the communications technologies are forcing the Greek vocational sector to a general reformation posing major issues for all the stakeholders and the policy makers as well (Watts, 2002).
Career Services Offices, as part of the broader Greek higher educational system, are facing significant challenges in the present decade. Subsequently ways in which CSF can integrate or expand the provision of their traditional services should be explored while issues relating to the institutional role of CSF in the Greek higher institutions relating to funding and quality assurance should be addressed (Stone, 1990).
To what extent can CSF differentiate the services provided to their graduates? Should the provision of the career information and guidance be viewed as another “task”, or as an efficient mean of enhancing employability? What are the respective roles of the staff involved in the Greek CSF in promoting the application of added value services within the present framework?
The present paper attempts to address all these related issues exploring at the same time all the challenges facing Career Services Offices, particularly as institutional bodies that are forced to “meet” a changing and unstable social and economic environment in the Greek labor market. In addition it clearly illustrates why Career Services Offices should re-adjust the content of their operation while through the presentation of the Career Services Office of University of Thessaly identifies some ways to effectively utilize the Institution to enhance the provision of alternative career services and strengthen institutional relationships.