Sustainability and career development - IAEVG Webinar, October 2022

In the context of increasing concerns internationally about rising inequality and poverty in societies around the world, entrenched gender inequality, economic growth, and environmental issues related to climate change, sustainability has emerged as a beacon of hope and a principle to guide individuals, organisations, industry, and governments in their actions. Sustainability, as presented by the 17 goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is committed to the betterment of people, the planet, and prosperity for all by working in partnership and fostering peace. But what does sustainability mean for career development?

Similar to other disciplines, career development researchers, authors and practitioners are considering the potential contribution of career development to sustainability and the 2030 Agenda. For example, the terms decent work, green guidance, and sustainable careers are increasingly evident in the career development literature.

This presentation considers sustainability in relation to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and the implications for career development and its foundational value of social justice. Examples of the application of sustainability and the SDGs in career development will be provided. Consideration will be given to whether career development is ‘fit for purpose’ in the era of sustainability or whether a fundamental reconceptualisation of career development is needed

PRESENTERS

Mary McMahon is an Honorary Associate Professor at The University of Queensland, School of Education. Mary is a developer and co-author of the Systems Theory Framework of career development. She researches and publishes on career development across the lifespan, narrative and systems approaches to career counselling, and qualitative career assessment. Mary received the 2020 European Society for Vocational Designing and Career Counseling award for distinguished contributions to vocational designing and career counselling and the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asia Pacific Career Development Association. Mary is an IAEVG Board Member.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Knight works at the Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES) within the Mitchell Institute as a research fellow. A key area of interest is equity of access to and in tertiary education, the provision of institutional information and support for transition into post-school education. Her research focuses on provision of career information, higher vocational education, transitions to tertiary education and the nature of graduate employment and employability. Lizzie has also been a professional careers counsellor for 10 years. She worked for the Ministerial Company Education Services Australia (ESA) as the subject matter expert on the myfuture website between 2015 and 2020, and has trained careers counsellors and teachers in every state and territory in Australia. She supports the Career Industry Council of Australia in their research work and sits on the executive of the Australian Vocational Education Research Association.  She is the Reviews Editor of the International Journal of Lifelong Education and the Associate Editor of Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education.