Photo by Daniel Gomez on Unsplash
Europe offers a wealth of professional opportunities for people who want to develop their careers, gain international experience and build a better future. Yet, despite the European Union‘s effort to promote freedom of movement and employment across borders, relocating to another country for work remains a significant challenge for many.
This is where the EMoCC – European Mobility Career Counselling (EmoCC) project comes in. Co-funded by the European Unions´s Erasmus+ program, EMoCC was designed to improve career counselling and make professional mobility more accessible, inclusive and successful. The project brought together partners from Italy, Germany, Spain and France to develop research, training opportunities and practical resources for career guidance professionals.
At its heart, EMoCC promotes a simple but important idea: successful mobility is about more than finding a job abroad. It is about supporting people to understand their potential, prepare for change and make informed decisions about their professional future.
Why is career mobility important?
Working in another country can open doors to new career paths, improve professional skills, strengthen language abilities and encourage personal growth. International experience can also help people develop intercultural awareness, independence, adaptability and confidence.
However, moving abroad is not always straigth forward. People may face challenges including: administrative procedures, language barriers, an unfamiliar working environment, financial concerns and challenges adapting to a different cultural environment. Family responsibilities, individual expectations and uncertainty about the future can also influence their decisions.
These challenges demonstrate that providing information about vacancies or employment services is not enough. Individuals may also need support in understanding their motivations, assessing their readiness for change and identifying potential obstacles.
Career counsellors can play a crucial role in this process. Nevertheless, professionals working in employment services, educational institutions or advice services do not always have specialised training in counselling about job mobility.
EMoCC addresses this gap by equipping these professionals with knowledge and tools to guide people through career decisions and international transitions.
The EMoCC project focuses on three interconnected objectives:
1. Understanding individual attitudes towards mobility
The first objective was to provide a thorough understanding of individual factors that may prevent or hinder individual mobility choices.
2. Improving career counselling skills
The second objective was to provide basic training in career counselling to professionals who, within their broader professional role, provide guidance services to individuals with a mobility and/or migratory background or who are wondering whether to move to another country.
3. Developing European mobility expertise
The third objective was to provide specific training on mobility related topics to Career Counsellor Experts to support people in making career choices in terms of international employment.
Together, these objectives connect research with practical learning and help professionals provide more individualised, informed and inclusive advice.
Research and Training: Turning Knowledge into Practice
A central achievement of EMoCC was the development of research and two online training courses, known as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The research component included two complementary approaches:
AtoM (Attitude Toward Moving)
A qualitative study exploring people´s motivations, experiences and challenges related to work mobility
WoMSA (Work Mobility Skills and Attitude Scale)
A questionnaire designed to help individuals and counsellors reflect on mobility-related attitudes, skills, expectations and potential barriers.
The project also developed two 30-hour online courses:
MOOC 1: Counselling for the Labour Market
This course introduces basic career counselling knowledge and methods. It is particularly relevant to professionals who, within their broader professional role, provide formal and/or informal career counselling and guidance services (e.g. social workers, youth tutors, operators working with asylum seekers and refugees, advisors)
MOOC 2: Advising for International Job Mobility
This course will equip Career Counsellor Experts with skills and attitudes to support people who are considering or could benefit from work mobility. This training will focus on the specific challenges of working abroad, in addressing several topics such as social and cross-cultural sensitiveness, understanding the role of educational and vocational guidance, European networks and services that can support international career transitions.
Both courses were developed to complement each other, enabling professionals to strengthen their general counselling abilities and deepen their expertise in international mobility. The courses were made available free of charge until at least 2030.
A European Partnership with a shared vision
EMoCC brought together five partner organisations with complementary expertise:
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italy): Project coordination and expertise in career counselling research
University of Applied Labour Studies (HdBA, Germany) Academic expertise in employment, counselling and career guidance
ESMOVIA (Spain) Experience in international mobility and training
Tür an Tür (Germany) Expertise in labour market integration and support for migrants and refugees
iriv (France) Expertise in volunteering, liefelong learning and education
What does EMoCC mean for the future?
The project´s significance extends beyond it´s original duration. Its research findings, counselling tools and online courses offer resources that professionals can continuously use to improve their practice.
For individuals, career counselling can help transform the idea of working abroad into a realistic and well prepared decision. For counsellors, the project offers opportunities to develop their skills and respond more effectively to clients with diverse background and ambitions. For organisations, it provides resources to strengthen employment guidance and international cooperation.
Ultimately, European mobility should not be seen as an opportunity available only to those who already have extensive knowledge, financial resources or international experience. With appropriate support, more people can explore their options and make choices that reflect their abilities, circumstances and aspirations.
Conclusion: Building Bridges to New Opportunities
The EMoCC project demonstrates the importance of combining career guidance, intercultural understanding and practical training to support professional mobility across Europe.
By investigating the personal factors behind mobility descisions and providing accessible training for career guidance professionals, EMoCC helps to lay the foundations for more informed and effective counselling practices.
Its central message remains relevant: Mobility is not just about crossing borders; it is about opening doors to personal development, professional growth and social inclusion.
Official EMoCC website https://www.emocc.eu
Written by Anne Güller-Frey . Anne is a member of the Metropolis International Advisory Council and has been Transnational Coordinator of the Network Integration through Qualification (IQ) from 2005 - 2024. She is also a Member of the Expert-Council on Integration of the Bavarian Government.
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