All of the Universities and most of the Institutes of Technology (IoT) offer a careers service to students. The main provision is targeted at final year students and recent graduates though some career services have started to provide careers education in the curriculum of undergraduate courses. The Careers Advisory/Appointments Office provides information on educational and employment opportunities to students and graduates. Students can meet with a Careers Adviser for educational and career guidance. Universities and the ITs are not required by the state to offer careers services and the provision can differ across the sector. The main roles and tasks of the Careers Adviser include:

• General management
• Information management
• Teaching/coaching guidance activities
• Counselling
• Advice
• Assessment
• Referral
• Advocacy
• Follow up
• Employability skills

At present many of the Careers Services are involved in programmes at third level promoting student retention. NCGE organised a Colloquium 'Staying Power - Increasing Retention Rates in Higher Education' on behalf of the Department of Education and Science in 1999. More information