Celebrating collaborative excellence: the Swedish Guidance Counsellor Award 2024

Author: Nina Ahlroos, Euroguidance Sweden

The Swedish Association of Guidance Counsellors has honoured Malin Andersson with the prestigious 2024 Guidance Counsellor Award. The award was presented during the annual national guidance conference, recognising her innovative, digital and creative approach to guidance. 

“It's an incredible honour” Malin says. “This award really validates the work I've done and highlights the importance of collaboration within our schools. It motivates me to keep improving and supporting my colleagues, students, and their guardians.”

Development of methods

Malin has successfully developed methods that foster collaboration within her school and with the surrounding society. Her influence extends beyond her local community through her Facebook page, where she inspires hundreds of fellow guidance counsellors by sharing tips, lesson plans, activities, and materials that she has created for the students.

• In my role, I have developed several guidance methods and tools tailored to different age groups and needs, with the aim of making guidance relevant and engaging for students. One example is a series of lesson plans designed to help students see the connection between their studies and future careers. To increase accessibility, I have also developed digital resources, such as video recordings.

Commitment to Long-Term Student Development

Malin works full-time as a guidance counsellor at Forshaga Learning Centre in Sweden, a school where she follows students from preschool through ninth grade. This long-term engagement allows her to gain a comprehensive understanding of students' development and needs throughout their schooling.

• I draw inspiration primarily from my daily work and the challenges I encounter. When I see a problem or a need among the students, I immediately start thinking about how it can be resolved or improved. It is often these everyday situations that lead to the most creative solutions. I also find inspiration in research on pedagogy and guidance.

A key aspect of Malin's work has been facilitating collaboration among schools, municipalities and businesses. With strong support from her school principal, Malin has been able to establish networks and platforms for cooperation. One of the most notable examples is a program which resulted in two weeks of work experience for students. 

“Collaboration is crucial in the guidance work, and I also believe that sharing ideas strengthens our profession”, says Malin.

Guidance as part of everything in the school

Her role is diverse, involving individual counselling sessions, group activities, and classroom interventions tailored to the students' age and the time of year. For younger students, her work focuses on self-awareness and sparking interest in education and careers. For older students, she provides guidance on secondary school choices and future career paths.

• Looking ahead, I want to work more on integrating guidance into the entire school's culture so that guidance becomes a natural part of everything that happens at the school, in teaching, and in collaboration with parents and external partners, Malin concludes.