At this year’s Career Guidance and Counselling Fair, 12 school teams were presented, showcasing their most important activities implemented in their schools with the aim of improving students’ employability skills. In addition to the competing exhibitors, more than 80 virtual attendees participated, including representatives from schools, public institutions, the business sector, civil society organisations, and other interested individuals. This year’s exhibitors came from schools in Bač, Knjaževac, Ruski Krstur, Velika Plana, Niš, Belgrade, Kragujevac, Sečanj, Pančevo, and Bajina Bašta.

The award in the category of career guidance and counselling activities working with students from vulnerable social groups was won by the Agricultural School from Bač. More than 80 students participated in the programmes “All to Graduation”, “Prevention of Student Dropout and Early School Leaving”, and “Every Person is a Star in Their Own Right”. These programmes help young people develop their career paths by informing them about available opportunities and planning further career steps, including higher education options in Serbia and abroad. In addition, as part of practical training, students produced confectionery and bakery products, which they had the opportunity to present and share both within and outside the school, encouraging them to recognise their role in the functioning of the local community. The programmes aimed at students from vulnerable groups also promoted an intercultural approach to integration into the local community, motivating students to share their culture and traditions while gaining knowledge about others.

The award in the category of digital innovations in career guidance and counselling was granted to the Primary and Secondary School with Dormitory “Petro Kuzmjak” from Ruski Krstur. The school used its Instagram page for educational purposes. Teachers prepared short lessons adapted to the Instagram format, some of which were dedicated to students’ career orientation. To present learning content in an engaging way, teachers created avatars. Even the historical figure Petro Kuzmjak, after whom the school is named, had his own avatar and guided students through the challenges of choosing a school. The school placed a strong emphasis on developing students’ digital competencies, especially given that a significant number of classes were held in an online environment. The school also participated in the “Bilingual STEM Scientists” project, which involved international women scientists.

The Secondary Vocational School from Kragujevac received the award in the category of cooperation with the business sector. In addition to career information and counselling activities and support for students in developing career management skills, the school has established numerous partnerships at the local and national level aimed at further developing dual education, non-formal training, and local dialogue for youth employment. Among the most significant partnerships for students’ future employment and career development are collaborations with companies such as Unior Components d.o.o., Holdmayr Zastava, Mind Group, and Blažeks Kragujevac. The school also actively participates in activities of local partners such as the Educational-Cultural Community Romanipen, as well as various programmes aimed at developing students’ competencies.

A special award for the recognition of potential for further development in career guidance and counselling activities was given to the Grammar School “Josif Pančić” from Bajina Bašta. In the previous period, the school actively implemented career information workshops, organised individual counselling sessions for students, established cooperation with primary schools and the Youth Office, and organised events connecting younger and older students.

Through its Employability Improvement programme area, the Belgrade Open School (BOS) has been working since 2002 on establishing and developing career guidance and counselling services in Serbia. Over the past six years, it has organised the Career Guidance and Counselling School Teams Fair, where 90 school teams have presented their activities as examples of good practice. The Fair has been attended by more than 700 representatives of schools, the public sector, and civil society organisations.

The 7th Career Guidance and Counselling School Teams Fair was implemented in partnership with the Coca-Cola Youth Support project. The project focuses on developing personal and professional skills of young people, and in cooperation with the Belgrade Open School it also supports the development of career guidance and counselling services that contribute to improved employability.