Balance y Portafolio de Competencias como metodologías de orientación formativa para adultos en Venezuela. Una propuesta

There are few or non-existent research on guidance for adults (20 to 60 years) in Venezuela; therefore, in the current situation, there's a need of proposals of appropriate methods for adult population. Nowadays literature agrees about guidance as a practice that must accompany the individual throughout the life span; there isn't a clear unique and universally accepted definition being a term in progress, while in the Venezuelan context has been adopted a shared definition (guidance as a social praxis), quoted in the Proposal of the National System of Orientation (PSNO, 2009). Due to continuous internal and external changes, people live continuous transitions thus entering into decision-making processes on personal or professional choices that may require a change or update of their plans. Therefore, it is important to develop the educational essence of guidance. The Bilan de competence and Portfolio of competences have been detected as instruments of guidance for adults able to empower self-knowledge skills and individual planning skills. The research questions focused on understanding logic lying beyond these methods and checking its portability to Venezuelan context as instruments of educational guidance, with the general objective to reach the development of an effective proposal for a different environment. As a result, the overall objective generated further and more specific objectives, which, in turn, together with the personal academic and professional experience of the researcher and the initial framework mentioned above, have directed the methodological choices. In particular, the specific objectives required a thorough study of the main theories, approaches and models of adult guidance widespread in Europe and in Italy, with particular reference to the two methods under investigation; carry out a survey of some practices of Bilan de competence and portfolio of competences that allow to identify the theoretical and methodological foundations and requirements; study the point of view of the actors (consultants and beneficiaries); analyze the characteristics and needs of the adult population in Venezuela; justify the importance and relevance of a proposal for a Bilan de competence adapted to the reality of the Venezuelan context. From the theoretical point of view, the basic concepts that have been developed, were the Bilan and Portfolio of competences, competence, and the concept of adult and of educational guidance. For each of these concepts we stated a prefence on the basis of the overall objective that is established with this research and looking at the context of the final application of a possible proposal. In particular, about the Bilan de competence, it was given preference to the development of Ruffini and Sarchielli (2001), Aubret (2001) concerning the portfolio of competences, Le Boterf (2005) and Tobón (2010) as it concerns competence, about the concept of adult it's been chosen the one indicated by the Guidance Thematic Dictionary (2010) published by the University of Zulia and finally, with reference to educational guidance, it is considered that the development of Di Nubila (2003) is the highest point of conceptualization. The personal and professional experience of who's carrying out the research has influenced the structuring of this research: this is why it is part of a hermeneutic perspective and uses mixed methods approach, with a prevalence of qualitative approach due to its exploratory nature. The analysis of focus groups allowed to identify the main strenghts as self-interpretation of own life, self-analysis and personal and professional design; weaknesses lay on possible lack of training of counsellor, on difficulty or inadequacy of some cards and their clarity of meaning; last point of weakness is considered the presence or the lack of strong motivation of participant. Education value is given to ease autobiographical reconstruction, life design and self-guidance. Ex ante/ex post questionnaires reveal an increase of personal and professional design habilities. From the questionnaire sent to the Venezuelan experts, must be emphasized as strengths the self-knowledge, the personal and professional design, and the contribution as guidance for adult people. Critical points are reported the lack of knowledge and specific training of counsellors on the methods of Bilan and Portfolio of competences; last, the main refcommendation is to take into conisderation of carachteristics and needs of adult people of the country. From the analysis of all instruments applied, and thanks to their flexibility and adaptability to both the type of beneficiary and of context, it can be concluded that the Bilan and the Portfolio of competences are valid methods of educational guidance for adults, which can be also applied in the context of Venezuela, respecting the theoretical and methodological assumptions, and taking into consideration the characteristics and needs of the beneficiaries. The overall result is a proposal for Bilan and the Portfolio of competences fitting the reality of adults graduating, both bachelor and master, at the Aldea Universitaria of Nueva Lucha, Misión Sucre, Municipality of Mara, Zulia State.