Career Connect is a recurring international online conference series created by ACROM to strengthen the Romanian career-guidance profession through structured dialogue with leading European and international experts. It combines continuous professional development, international exchange and community-building into a sustainable professional platform that connects school, university, public-sector and NGO counsellors around emerging challenges of guidance practice.
Objective:
Objective 1: Strengthen the professional competencies of Romanian educational, vocational, and career counselors by facilitating access to international best practices and expert-led training sessions.
Objective 2: Build and sustain an active professional community of career counseling practitioners that fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and peer learning across Romania and other countries.
Objective 3: Promote innovation in career counseling by integrating digital tools, artificial intelligence, and modern methodologies aligned with emerging labor market trends.
Target group:
- Educational, vocational, and career counselors working in pre-university and university education in Romania.
- Career development specialists from private institutions, NGOs, and training organizations.
- Representatives of public institutions involved in education, employment, and labor market policies.
- HR professionals and career trainers interested in modern approaches and tools for professional development and workforce planning.
Duration and frequency:
The conference series is be organized every one to two months, except during the summer break, with each online session lasting up to 1.5 hours (90 minutes).
Description:
The Career Connect – Dialogues with Career Counseling Professionals series consists of online conferences held every one to two months (except during the summer break), bringing together Romanian educational, vocational and career counselors with international experts. Each session lasts up to 1.5 hours and includes a keynote presentation, an interactive Q&A, and optional networking time.
The sessions are conducted in English or French and are designed to be interactive and practice-oriented, combining expert insights with participant engagement.
Example Topics: Innovative Approaches in Career Guidance and Lifelong Learning; Digital Tools and Artificial Intelligence in Career Counseling; Supporting Career Transitions for Vulnerable Groups (NEETs, adults in reskilling, persons with disabilities); Building Resilience and Adaptability in the Future Workforce; International Best Practices in School and University Career Services.
Main Results: Creation of a professional learning platform for Romanian counselors. Strengthened international cooperation and exchange of good practices. Improved professional competencies of participants through exposure to new methodologies and tools. Formation of an active network of practitioners committed to improving the quality of career counseling services in Romania.
Implementation steps:
1: Preparation and Needs Analysis
- Conduct a needs assessment among Romanian educational and career counselors to identify key themes, skill gaps, and training interests.
- Define the annual calendar of events, taking into account academic schedules and avoiding summer breaks.
- Identify and invite international experts and keynote speakers aligned with the selected topics.
- Develop communication materials and a registration system for participants.
2: Event Planning and Promotion
- Finalize the agenda, format, and logistics for each online session (platform setup, translation support if needed, Q&A moderation).
- Promote the events through professional networks, universities, and partner organizations.
- Prepare supporting materials (presentation slides, reading lists, short bios of speakers).
3: Implementation of the Online Conferences
- Host each session according to the planned structure: keynote presentation, Q&A, and networking.
- Facilitate interactive participation through polls, chat discussions, or breakout rooms.
- Record sessions (with speaker consent) to create a digital resource library for future reference.
4: Follow-up and Knowledge Sharing
- Distribute summaries, key takeaways, and resource materials after each event.
- Encourage participants to share insights and applications within their institutions or counseling centers.
- Collect feedback forms to assess the relevance and usefulness of each session.
5: Evaluation and Sustainability
- Conduct an annual evaluation of the series based on participant feedback, attendance data, and learning outcomes.
- Adjust the content and approach for future editions according to identified needs.
- Strengthen the professional network by maintaining communication channels (online community, newsletter, shared platform).
Necessary conditions:
1. Material and Technical Requirements
- Reliable online conferencing platform (e.g., Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Teams) with interactive features such as breakout rooms, polls, and Q&A tools.
- Stable internet connection and technical support to ensure smooth streaming and participant access.
- Digital communication tools for registration, feedback collection, and follow-up (e.g., Google Forms).
- Recording and archiving tools to create a digital library of sessions for future access.
- Visual and communication materials – graphic design templates, event banners, and multilingual promotional content (English/French/Romanian).
2. Premises and Logistical Support
- Activities are conducted entirely online, so no physical premises are required.
- Coordination and hosting can be managed from the organizer’s office or institutional premises, with access to necessary IT infrastructure.
3. Budget Requirements (estimated categories)
- Honoraria for international speakers and moderators.
- Technical and communication costs (platform subscriptions, graphic design, translations/subtitles if needed).
- Staff time for coordination, communication, and evaluation.
- Promotional expenses for outreach and dissemination.
4. Human Resources and Required Skills
- Project coordinator (1 person) – responsible for planning, partnerships, and communication with speakers.
- Skills: project management, intercultural communication, event coordination.
- Estimated time: ~60–80 hours per conference cycle (planning, execution, follow-up).
- Technical support specialist (1 person) – manages the online platform, recordings, and troubleshooting.
- Skills: digital tools management, live event support.
- Estimated time: ~10–15 hours per event.
- Moderator/facilitator (1 person) – leads the event, moderates Q&A sessions, and ensures participant engagement.
- Skills: facilitation, public speaking, English/French proficiency.
- Estimated time: ~5–6 hours per event (preparation and delivery).
- Communication and dissemination officer (1 person) – handles participant registration, promotion, and post-event reporting.
- Skills: social media communication, design, outreach.
- Estimated time: ~30–40 hours per event.
Photos, videos, further resources:
Some of the conferences organized by ACROM with professionals were held online or in a hybrid format. Here is the link to the most important events:
Contact person: marian.craciun@dcoc.unibuc.ro, contact@acrom.org.ro