The full text of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the COST Action CA23112 – Critical Perspectives on Career and Career Guidance (COCAG) is available here.

Below is a summary of its key points:

The Critical Perspectives on Career and Career Guidance (COCAG) Action is a collaborative research network that examines how careers and career guidance are evolving in response to economic, technological, and social change. It challenges mainstream perspectives that frame career development as an individualised, self-managed process and instead highlights the structural factors—such as labour market inequalities, social mobility constraints, and policy interventions—that shape career trajectories.

The Action is grounded in critical, interdisciplinary inquiry, drawing on research from sociology, psychology, education, and labour studies to question dominant narratives of career and rethink how guidance policies and practices operate within broader political and economic systems. It brings together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from across Europe and beyond to develop new theoretical frameworks, influence policymaking, and support professionals working in career guidance.

Capacity Building, and Policy Engagement

COCAG is designed to foster critical and interdisciplinary debate. It supports new research directions that challenge dominant paradigms of career development and guidance while also creating spaces for engagement between researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. A particular focus is placed on supporting early career researchers, encouraging collaboration across different disciplines and geographic regions.

The Action also plays a role in translating research into practice and policy. Through publications, policy briefings, and public engagement activities, it aims to ensure that critical perspectives on career and career guidance inform policy discussions at national and European levels. The involvement of practitioners ensures that insights from research are not only theoretical but also relevant to those working in the field.

Implementation and Structure

COCAG is organised into three Working Groups, each aligned with one of the core research areas.

• Working group 1: The challenges and changes in contemporary careers – Investigates how broader economic, political, and social transformations shape career opportunities and constraints.
• Working Group 2: Policy responses – Examines the policy frameworks that govern career guidance and assesses their implications for different groups in society.
• Working Group 3: Critical practice – Explores how career guidance practitioners can integrate critical and socially responsive approaches into their work.

These groups coordinate research activities, policy engagement, and knowledge exchange initiatives. Their work includes scientific meetings, conferences, summer schools, and practitioner-focused events. The Action operates as a collaborative network, bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds to engage with the complexities of contemporary careers.

Impact and Contribution

This Action provides a critical lens through which to examine careers and career guidance, moving beyond the assumption that career development is simply a matter of individual choice and effort. It highlights the structural factors that shape opportunities and constraints, ensuring that career guidance is understood within the broader political, economic, and social context. By encouraging debate, collaboration, and engagement across research, policy, and practice, COCAG aims to create a more inclusive and equitable vision for career development and guidance in the contemporary world.