DAY 1 – September 24, 2025
The day began with a welcome address to guests at TEB EDUKACJA by the Managing Director and member of the management board, Ms. Marzena Muga. Next, Ms. Paulina Mielczarek (Fundraising Department) presented key information about TEB EDUKACJA. Partners learned about the structure of the organization, how many branches it has throughout Poland, and what types of schools are offered to students and listeners. Ms. Paulina Mielczarek also spoke about the fields of study and profiles at TEB EDUKCJA. Guests also heard about the equipment used in schools, such as high-quality computers, plotters, high-end photographic equipment, photo booths, VR goggles, and a virtual reality simulator. This type of equipment is often financed by grants supported by the European Union. Next, the project coordinator from TEB EDUKACJA, Ms. Katarzyna Wałczyńska (Fundraising Department), briefly presented the agenda of upcoming events as part of Laboratory No. 2.
In the afternoon the first educational panel began with the participation of all partners. The task of each partner team was to give a presentation on the role of a career counselor in their country. The topics of the presentations were to cover the following issues:
- The role, training, and competencies of a school counselor
- National good practices
- Common challenges and European perspectives
- “Educational ghettos and vicious circles” – case studies and comparative reflections
TEB EDUKACJA SP. Z O.O.
Agnieszka Madej, a career counselor from TEB EDUKACJA, was the first to give a presentation. Ms. Agnieszka is a specialist with many years of experience and a wonderful approach to students (including those with special needs). Ms. Madej explained that career counseling is mandatory at all stages of education,
from kindergarten to adult education:
Kindergarten and preschool – initial orientation – basic knowledge about professions and self-discovery.
Elementary schools (grades 1–6) – learning about interests, strengths, and simple professions.
Elementary schools (grades 7–8) – deeper self-analysis, understanding career choices, and learning about
the job market.
Secondary schools (general, vocational, technical, and post-secondary) – detailed career planning,
preparation for entering the labor market, and lifelong learning.
Next, Ms. Agnieszka Madej explained how career counseling works and what tools and processes can be used to implement it (regular compulsory lessons, special career counseling lessons (for grades 7–8 and secondary schools), meetings with the class teacher, workshops, projects and meetings with parents, as well as study visits to workplaces, vocational schools, or training centers. We then moved on to summarizing the responsibilities and role of a career counselor in the teaching process.
Their tasks primarily include:
- Assessing students’ career counseling needs.
- Conducting career counseling classes.
- Preparing and coordinating the school’s career counseling program.
- Supporting teachers, psychologists, and parents in activities related to career counseling.
- Collecting and sharing up-to-date information on careers and education.
- Helping students with self-assessment, decision-making, and career planning.
Ms. Agnieszka also emphasized the essential competencies of every career counselor. All partners agreed that career counselors have a difficult task ahead of them and that in order to perform it properly, they must demonstrate the following set of qualities and skills:
Soft skills: A school counselor should develop qualities such as empathy, patience, attentive listening, communication, and responsibility, which are essential when working with people.
Practical skills: Learn how to conduct professional competence tests, interpret their results, and understand the career path selection process.
Counselor attitude: Continuous and effective learning – adaptability, creativity, unconventional thinking, entrepreneurship – internal leader.
Ms. Agnieszka Madej presented the key aspects of the work of a career advisor in an interesting way, while inspiring partners to discuss and exchange reflections and experiences on the systemic challenges faced by advisors in partner countries.
I.C. PERUGIA 8
Next, a presentation was given by the Italian team from I.C. PERUGIA 8.
Ms. Francesca Fabi presented the Perugia 8 school complex, discussing its structure, types of institutions, and student age groups. She emphasized that the complex has approximately 650 students representing numerous nationalities. She then talked about the school’s mission and its key principles:
- an environment in which students shape their personal and civic identity.
- an inclusive school – ensuring that everyone feels welcome, understood, and appreciated.
- encouraging students to actively participate in the learning process and the realization of their life plans.
- cultivating a culture of solidarity, integration, and peace.
- a shared school—promoting open dialogue and cooperation between the school, families, and the local community.
Ms. Francesca Fabi said that Perugia 8 focuses on all middle school classes, providing them with interesting projects and activities, such as: Educational trips around the area to discover cultural resources, libraries, and museums; Interdisciplinary educational trips of a cultural and sporting nature. A very interesting project was the Classroom in the Middle of the Sea, which aims to strengthen various aspects of education.
Another interesting issue raised by Ms. Francesca was strengthening students’ basic skills in relation to their initial level by promoting the acquisition of key European competences and developing subject-specific skills.
All the initiatives and projects that Ms. Fabi talked about focused on supporting students in making informed choices about their educational path and planning their future careers.
SU HRISTO YASSENOV
The next partner to give a presentation on the role of a career counselor was Bulgaria (Ms. Marina Sabkova-Borisova and Ms. Stefka Staneva, teachers at SU Hristo Yassenov). One of the first slides in the Bulgarian team’s presentation was a graphic showing the diversity of roles played by a career counselor. This was the beginning of a fascinating discussion among the partners about the
importance of selecting the right competencies and skills for a career counselor. The partners pointed out that this cannot be a random person, but someone who can communicate with students, show them the right path, and help them solve problems.
Ms. Marina Sabkova-Borisova and Ms. Stefka Staneva, teachers at SU Hristo Yassenov, also talked about organizing meetings at their school during which specialists present career paths to students, helping them understand what skills are needed and how to plan their future. The Bulgarian team emphasized the importance of emotional support and soft skills in the career counseling process. Developing self-expression, self-confidence, and teamwork skills gives students the opportunity to demonstrate empathy, leadership, and responsibility in their community.
The partners agreed that the issues related to career guidance presented by Ms. Marina and Ms. Stefka are extremely important, especially today, when many young people are struggling with mental health issues.
It was sad to note that in the Bulgarian public school system, students do not have the opportunity for individual consultations with a career counselor due to a lack of financial resources.
CONSORZIO FUTURO
The last partner to speak during the education panel was Consorzio Futuro. At the beginning, Ms. Elena Ruggeri presented the situation of the secondary school education system in Italy. She talked about the functioning of the E-portfolio, whose main elements are: a record of completed studies and documented skills development, but also evaluative and self-assessment reflections.
Ms. Elena also talked about the launch of “training campuses” through coordination networks between schools and training institutions. Next, job placement for schools and its special role were discussed: dialogue with families and students to facilitate continuing education or entering the labor market.
The second part of the presentation focused on career guidance, which is a key issue in Italy as it provides the necessary support for making informed and responsible decisions at every stage of the educational and professional path. Ms. Elena Rugeri discussed a report analyzing the current situation in the field of
counseling services, highlighting the latest legal regulations and challenges that still need to be addressed.
One of the report’s most important conclusions concerned vocational training agencies, which play a fundamental role in providing personalized support and guidance when entering the labor market.
The agencies conduct demand analyses, counseling workshops, and internships. They work to reduce the gap between training and employment, improving employment opportunities and social integration.
Due to the lengthy presentations and inspiring discussion, the partners unanimously decided to postpone the tour of the TEB Edukacja headquarters until the last day of the Laboratories – Friday. The participants then took part in an organized guided tour of the center of Poznań, starting at the Town Hall.
The walk proved to be extremely interesting and full of historical curiosities. It ended at around 7:00 p.m.
DAY 2 – September 25, 2025
On this day, participants went on a trip to Toruń to see one of the best-equipped branches of TEB EDUKACJA. The building houses a technical college, a post-secondary school, and a high school. Participants had the opportunity to visit the school complex and see classrooms equipped with high-quality equipment (computer labs, a professional VR lab, and a photography lab). There was also a presentation of equipment purchased with EU funds as part of educational projects obtained by the Fundraising Department (VR simulator, VR goggles, computers, photo booth, plotter, 3D printers).
On that day, a lecture was also given by TEB Edukacja teacher Joanna Symonowicz-Sokólska on the benefits
of the school’s participation in an EU-funded project, discussing issues such as:
- Additional career counseling hours
- Competence tests, professional profiles, IPD
- Additional modern specialist equipment
- Specialized training for students
- Improving the qualifications of teaching staff
The next stage was a career counseling workshop for technical school students led by career counselor Ms. Agnieszka Madej. English-speaking students took part in the workshop so that all partners could clearly understand the tasks being carried out. The workshop covered topics such as:
- Integrative methodologies in counseling
- Digital tools and innovations in counseling-oriented teaching
- Involvement of families and the educational community
- In-depth discussion on the “Value of learning by doing” for integration training in relation to the
motivational role of the counselor - Integration strategies in counseling paths
- Involvement of students with special educational needs
During the workshops, the partners used the PADLET platform to record their observations. The day ended with a lunch at a restaurant in Toruń’s Old Town, where the partners had the opportunity to integrate and deepen their intercultural relations.
DAY 3 – 26.09.2025
The day began with a lecture by TEB Edukacja teacher Michał Sakowski on the impact of career counseling on students’ choice of further education and future careers.
This was followed by a discussion on good practices in career counseling and the tools used by career counselors in their work in different countries. The partners summarized their observations. The next steps in the project were also discussed. Ms. Elena Ruggeri from Consorzio Futuro (project coordinator) reminded everyone of the rules for disseminating the project results.
The next step was to show the project participants around the TEB EDUKACJA headquarters. Ms. Anna Klimaszewska (Marketing Department) presented the organizational structure of the company and described in detail the activities of its individual departments.
The last on the agenda was the ceremonial presentation of certificates to all participants of Laboratory No. 2 by the event organizer, Ms. Katarzyna Wałczyńska from the Fundraising Department. The meeting ended with a series of commemorative photos that captured this special moment.
WE CHOOSE VET FOR THE FUTURE 
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