Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Birth of Core-Skill (Identifying and developing adaptive skills for facing transformation)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-07-01 al 2024-06-30
In the rapidly evolving job market, the demand for non-technical or "soft" skills is projected to dominate by 2030. Two-thirds of jobs will require these skills, up from half in 2000. This shift is driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which necessitate continuous updating of technical skills and highlight the value of uniquely human attributes such as flexibility, creativity, innovation, and emotional intelligence. As per OECD findings, this is a global trend affecting all countries.
The Birth of Core Skills Project aims to enhance students' soft skills to improve employability and align educational outcomes with market demands. By integrating cognitive science knowledge and methods, the project utilized experimental studies to understand and enhance soft skills development. Cognitive science insights into mental processes guided the testing and refinement of training methodologies for improving flexibility, creativity, innovation, and emotional intelligence. This evidence-based approach ensured the program's effectiveness in preparing students for the professional world by leveraging a deep understanding of human cognition and behavior.
The Birth of Core Skills Project aims to enhance students' soft skills to improve employability and align educational outcomes with market demands. By integrating cognitive science knowledge and methods, the project utilized experimental studies to understand and enhance soft skills development. Cognitive science insights into mental processes guided the testing and refinement of training methodologies for improving flexibility, creativity, innovation, and emotional intelligence. This evidence-based approach ensured the program's effectiveness in preparing students for the professional world by leveraging a deep understanding of human cognition and behavior.
Activities included conducting a market study on soft skills in Europe, refining customer targeting, and strategic planning. Automated processes, enhanced infrastructure, and developed key software functionalities. Created a new website, marketing assets, and automated sales processes. Secured funding for market expansion and received ethical approval for program evaluation. Achievements involved technological advancements, market expansion into Scandinavia, and securing major contracts. Outcomes included implementing new functionalities, stabilizing infrastructure, expanding into new markets, securing funding, signing significant contracts, and initiating program evaluation.
1. Potential impacts:
- Enhanced employability:
The project aims to boost employability for graduates by aligning their skills with workplace demands, focusing on soft skills development and certification to improve job placement rates.
- Market maturation:
By addressing market immaturity in soft skills assessment, the project can drive awareness and adoption, leading to balanced education systems that value both hard and soft skills.
- Policy influence:
The project's outcomes can inform EU education policies on the importance of certifying soft skills.
2. Key needs for further uptake and success:
- Further research:
Continued research is needed to refine soft skills assessment methodologies and validate their impact on employability through longitudinal studies.
- Access to markets and finance:
Securing additional funding and expanding market access through Horizon Europe and other EU funding mechanisms is crucial for scaling, including EIC accelerator candidacy.
- Commercialisation strategy:
Developing a robust commercialization strategy with clear value propositions, pricing models, and go-to-market plans across countries and regions
- IPR support:
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) support is necessary to protect innovative methodologies and tools through patents and trademarks.
-Internationalisation:
Expanding globally requires adapting tools to different cultural contexts and establishing international partnerships.
- Supportive regulatory and standardisation framework:
Engaging with regulatory institutions to develop standards for soft skills assessment will ensure consistency and credibility.
Overview of the results:
- Program evaluation:
An evaluation to assess the program's impact on employability was initiated, with ethical approval obtained in July 2024.
Technological enhancements:
Developed key functionalities, including a communication space and soft skills certification, enhancing the product offering.
Market penetration and expansion:
Expanded into new markets, particularly in Scandinavia, with strategic funding from Assurance Prospection and Innov'up for R&D.
Policy recommendations:
Provided insights and recommendations for EU policymakers on the importance of soft skills in education and employment.
- Enhanced employability:
The project aims to boost employability for graduates by aligning their skills with workplace demands, focusing on soft skills development and certification to improve job placement rates.
- Market maturation:
By addressing market immaturity in soft skills assessment, the project can drive awareness and adoption, leading to balanced education systems that value both hard and soft skills.
- Policy influence:
The project's outcomes can inform EU education policies on the importance of certifying soft skills.
2. Key needs for further uptake and success:
- Further research:
Continued research is needed to refine soft skills assessment methodologies and validate their impact on employability through longitudinal studies.
- Access to markets and finance:
Securing additional funding and expanding market access through Horizon Europe and other EU funding mechanisms is crucial for scaling, including EIC accelerator candidacy.
- Commercialisation strategy:
Developing a robust commercialization strategy with clear value propositions, pricing models, and go-to-market plans across countries and regions
- IPR support:
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) support is necessary to protect innovative methodologies and tools through patents and trademarks.
-Internationalisation:
Expanding globally requires adapting tools to different cultural contexts and establishing international partnerships.
- Supportive regulatory and standardisation framework:
Engaging with regulatory institutions to develop standards for soft skills assessment will ensure consistency and credibility.
Overview of the results:
- Program evaluation:
An evaluation to assess the program's impact on employability was initiated, with ethical approval obtained in July 2024.
Technological enhancements:
Developed key functionalities, including a communication space and soft skills certification, enhancing the product offering.
Market penetration and expansion:
Expanded into new markets, particularly in Scandinavia, with strategic funding from Assurance Prospection and Innov'up for R&D.
Policy recommendations:
Provided insights and recommendations for EU policymakers on the importance of soft skills in education and employment.