A helping hand: The role of career guidance in finding the right career pathway for at-risk students in three European contexts

Abstract

This paper explores the educational experiences of young people who had been at risk of dropping out and gained a qualification at a second chance provision. It is based on comparative fieldwork in England, Denmark and Hungary with empirical data collected from observations; and 28 interviews with former students. By listening to the voices of students, the analysis focused on the relevance of different sources of support. The findings revealed that individual study pathways and intensified guidance effort led stu dents to pursue their career in higher education and/or in the labour market.