The spring of 2025 marked an exciting milestone in our COCAG COST Action initiative as COCAG member Rie Thomsen conducted a workshop with representatives from the Danish unemployment insurance fund, CA-Akasse. The organization, which serves 66,000 members, invited us to explore how deeper engagement with career concepts could enhance their member support activities during employment transitions and workplace challenges.
Aligning with COCAG’s Mission
This collaboration embodies the core aims of the COCAG COST Action project, where we take a critical approach to career concepts and actively involve citizens in meaningful discussions about how different conceptualisations impact their working lives. By bridging theoretical understanding with practical application, we’re offering organisations like CA-Akasse to develop more nuanced, critical and innovative career support services.
Workshop Structure and Resources
The workshop centred around our publication on careers—available through the University Press “Reflections” series as part of our COST project. The session blended theoretical insights with practical exercises, allowing participants to:
- Explore various theoretical understandings of career development
- Reflect on their own career journeys through different conceptual lenses
- Consider how broader, more inclusive career concepts might enhance their member services
This approach established fertile ground for participants to reconsider the impact of different conceptualisations and specifically how they could strengthen their outreach activities and incorporate career as a more holistic concept.
Positive Impact and Testimonials
The workshop generated enthusiastic feedback from CA-Akasse’s leadership:
“Rie facilitated a workshop for our board on the subject: What is a career. As an Unemployment fund, one of our main aspirations is to help our 66,000 members to develop their careers in accordance with their potential. Rie worked with us in a very creative way to help us develop a deeper understanding of how a career is formed, so we may better understand and advise our members. It was very much appreciated and very inspirational.”
— Christian Friis, CEO, CA Careerpartner and Unemployment Fund
The organization’s Chairperson added:
“The workshop with Rie Thomsen opened up the career concept and provided new perspectives on what makes a good career. At CA, we work specifically with the career concept and how one can actively set the agenda for modern and flexible working life. At CA, we want to give our members opportunities.”
— Eva Nautrup, Chair, CA Careerpartner and Unemployment Fund
Expanding Our Reach Across Europe
Following this successful implementation, the COCAG COST Action team is now working to make similar workshops available to organisations across different European countries. This expansion aligns with our mission to democratize career development concepts and support services throughout diverse European contexts.
Access Our Resources
Interested in learning more? Our upcoming book on careers can be downloaded for free or purchased as a physical copy https://en.unipress.dk/udgivelser/c/careers/. If your organisation would like to explore hosting a similar workshop, please contact the COCAG COST Action organisation directly. Together, using a critical lens, we can reimagine career development support for the coherent (work)-life.
Critical Perspectives on Career and Career Guidance (COCAG) 