Internationalization of career counselling: Reflections on professional dynamism and advancement

Abstract

As a discipline originated from the West, career counselling has been introduced to different countries and regions of the world. This is increasingly discussed and explored as the internationalization of the discipline (e.g., Goodman & Gillis, 2009; Hartung, 2005; Savickas, Van Esbroeck, & Herr, 2005), a process referred as “globalocalization” (Savickas, 2003, p. 95). In this special issue on “internationalization and career counselling,” contributors from Australia, Japan, India, South Africa, and Taiwan outline and analyze recent developments or studies in their respective environmental and cultural contexts. In responding to their articles, I identify important themes in the process of internationalization and reflect on them, namely making theories and practices responsive to social and environmental changes, addressing cultural appropriateness, as well as progressing through professional training and regulation. Implications will also be drawn on how career professionals can play dynamic roles in enhancing theoretical and professional advancements in their respective countries in the context of localization and internationalization.