At OsloMet, the project “Ready for Working Life – Career Learning on the Schedule” (September 2020 to December 2023) aimed to enhance students’ career learning in line with the National Quality Framework for Career Guidance. Recognizing that the concept of career learning remains underdeveloped in European contexts (Coljin, 2022), the project sought to address this gap by creating innovative tools to support students during critical educational transitions. The theoretical foundations and essential outcomes of the project will be presented to show how innovative tools can be designed. One of the project’s central outcomes was developing the digital reflection board game Think&Grow, tested with 1,700 students over two years at two universities in southern Norway. The game demonstrated significant potential in fostering reflection, problem-solving, communication, and inclusion skills. Following a successful pilot, OsloMet decided to innovate further by creating the ThiGro® gaming portal, designed to expand the scope of career learning tools. The project explored key research questions, including how students experienced the game’s impact on their learning and development and how teachers could leverage these findings to facilitate effective student transitions. These findings will be presented at the symposium, along with pedagogical insights. To build the ThiGro® portal, OsloMet partnered with CoreTrek in 2023, selected for their technological expertise. This collaboration resulted in the development of 13 games tailored to four distinct target groups: high school students, higher education students, Folk high school pupils, and participants in labor market schemes. Developed with input from focus groups, the games address specific challenges faced during educational transitions. While the core gameplay remains consistent across all groups, the categories and questions are customized to reflect the unique needs of each audience. The ThiGro® games are played in small reflective teams, promoting collaboration, growth mindsets (Dweck, 2017), and problem-solving skills (Susnic, 2020). These interactive tools provide a supportive framework for students to navigate complex educational and career pathways effectively. This project highlights the potential of digital tools like ThiGro® to revolutionize career guidance by fostering inclusivity, adaptability, and personalized learning solutions. The initiative underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in developing impactful career learning resources by emphasizing collaboration among educators, researchers, and technology experts.

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