Law no. 2007-1199 of 10 August 2007 relative to the freedom and
responsibilities of universities entrusts higher education institutions
with a vocational guidance and integration mission so that they can
support students up until they join the labour market.
Universities
now have a duty to publish the statistics on their success rates in
examinations and above all on the professional integration of their
graduates. In order to help universities fulfil this mission, the law
of 10 August 2007 stipulates that it is their responsibility to create
professional integration support offices. These offices will publish a
list of work placements and job offers corresponding with the education
provided by the university and will help students look for placements
and a first job.
It is also necessary to improve pupil and
student information on the nature of the education provided by higher
education institutions and to raise their awareness of available
professional integration perspectives at the end of higher education.
This more in-depth knowledge of the reality of the business world will
enable them to design a professional project with full knowledge of the
job opportunities available to them.
This is why article 20 of
the law of 10 August 2007 stipulates that "All candidates are free to
enrol in the institution of their choice, provided they have previously
requested a pre-enrolment application in order to benefit from the
information and guidance system of this institution, which must be
established in consultation with the lycées."
The pre-enrolment
procedure is, on the one hand, a way for the candidate to express one
or several interests and, on the other, an information and guidance
process called "active guidance".
This active guidance process
is an advice and support-oriented approach initiated by universities
for the benefit of future baccalauréat graduates. Its objective is to
fight against academic failure by helping young people make documented
guidance choices and enrol in suitable courses.
It is therefore
the responsibility of each institution to provide information on
professional opportunities available in the courses envisaged by
mobilising their entities and services such as the SCUIO.
The
law of 12 November 1968, known as the Faure law, had pointed out the
necessity of genuine guidance for young people within universities. In
1973, the official creation of university information and guidance
departments was concomitant with the reform of first cycle university
education. The Savary law of 26 January 1984 on higher education made
student guidance activities an integral part of the public service
missions of higher education.
By the decree of 1986,
student information and guidance services became part of university and
were named joint university and inter-university services for guidance
and professional integration (SCUIOIP).
The SCUIOP is supposed
to give future baccalauréat graduates information on university courses
by drawing up documents on the education provided by the university, on
professions and professional integration. It also encourages the
realisation of guidance missions entrusted to teacher/researchers.
Finally,
it develops all actions designed to facilitate the professional
integration of students and creates the necessary relationships with
the professional world and employment services. It publishes an annual
report on the professional integration of former students.
Due
to its missions, the SCUIOP constitutes a major player in the
implementation of the provisions of the law no. 2007-1199 of 10 August
2007 relative to the freedom and responsibilities of universities.
There is a national association of directors of Joint University Services for Information and Guidance (SCUIO).
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe