1) Background: Europe’s aging society and an increasing lack of skilled workersIn the forthcoming decades Europe among others will face two key challenges: an increasingly aging society due to massive demographic changes as well as lack of qualified labour forces, skilled workers in several sectors of the labour market.In European societies life expectancy is increasing. There are predictions that in the year 2020 in countries like Germany almost 50% of the population will be aged 50+. This trend goes along with a growing unemployment rate for this age group. According to the OECD (2014) the probability of finding or keeping a job decreases for older people. This includes the non-participation of older people at the labour market, lower employer investment in the skills of older workers and few incentives for older workers to improve their skills. At the same time, in several sectors of the labour market a shortage of skilled workers is expected or exists already. There are claims to meet future challenges by means of an active policy for raising the employment rate for older people for instance by helping them to stay in work longer. Also, in the light of a growing demand for skilled working forces and an increasing proportion of older staff, companies have to develop and implement concepts aiming at making their companies more attractive for older staff and to meet the specific requirement of this age group. 2) Central aspects and key factors targeted by the InCounselling50+ projectComprehensive, responsive and target group oriented counselling servicesDue to its heterogeneous nature the indirect target group of persons aged 50+ has varied needs. Job seekers 50+ are interested in finding their way back to the labour market, employees 50+ as well as employees in transition profit from company concepts which offer competence development or flexible working conditions. With respect to the stated diversity, InCounselling50+ has provided a concept to identify the needs of the individual person and that is open for different perspectives. Cooperation between Higher Education and companies The InCounselling50+ project has established new strategic partnerships and cooperation between Higher Education (HE), companies and Public Employment Services (PES) that ensure a high quality level in counselling. As an increasing number of Universities offer special services for older people like Third Age Universities and companies, they need concepts to maintain the knowledge and skills of their employees 50+ or lifelong learning, both sides can profit from each other. Within InCounselling50+ seven partners from four countries – HE institutions and companies from Germany, Poland and Croatia as well as an IT and eLearning specialist from Lithuania – promoted an active exchange of experiences and good practices between HE, companies and PES on an European level to ensure that the challenges of people aged 50+ get addressed adequately. 3) The InCounselling50+ project, its aims and outputsThe InCounselling50+ project aimed at developing, piloting and implementing a holistic and scientifically based concept for innovative career counselling and guidance. Its main target groups were HR practitioners (human resource managers) from companies and career counsellors. The actual group of end-users who will indirectly benefit from the project and its outcomes are people aged 50+. The project has brought up the following products and outputs:a) Needs analysisIn a first step the project carried out an analysis of the target groups’ needs in order to develop problem- and target group oriented concepts and products. b) Training concept, training manual, resource package and web portalBased on the outcomes of the needs analysis, three outputs has been developed by the partners: an overarching training concept, a comprehensive training manual consisting of six training modules as well as a methodological module for peer learning and counselling, a resource package that includes a trainer guide, PowerPoint slides and learning material for training participants. The concept, the manual and the resource package are available online on the project’s web portal. c) Face-to-face trainingsIn each of the partner countries (Germany, Poland, Croatia) - the partners realized pilots and face-to-face trainings for the project’s main target groups of HR practitioners from companies and career counsellors.d) Self-directed online coursesAs a part of the project’s blended learning concept, a self-directed online course was developed and implemented. The online course provides additional resources for twenty specific topics of the modules following a blended learning style. For participants the short learning sessions allow an in-depth online learning. At the same time, it can be used as a stand-alone resource for HR practitioners and career counsellors who have not participated in the course.