Broadly speaking, the current state-of-the-art for soft skills development can be classified into 4 main categories: 1) coaching and mentoring 2) academia 3) online education and training and 4) digital platforms. To address the so-called soft skills gap, although each approach has its own strengths, none of these solutions can holistically meet the specific end-user requirements of our targeted market.
1) Although arguably the most effective method to develop personal and professional qualities, coaching and mentoring remain by far the most exclusive and expensive approaches. Fluorometry require the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons to trigger the fluorescent response, which are not necessarily present with heavier oils that are likely to become submerged. It will typically cost $500/hr up to $3,500/hr for executive coaching which lasts on average between 7 and 12 months. This means it can cost between $14,000 and $168,000 to mentor a person in a “low-intensity” coaching programme (e.g. 2 hours per week every two weeks). As a result, it is only the upper management which benefits the most from mentoring. 58% of organizations spend more than $1,000 per learner on training for senior leadership, compared to just 39% for high-potentials and 32% for mid-level management.
2) In general, educational establishments largely focus on developing hard skills in order to meet government-designed curricula, leaving very little time for soft skills development. However, our research shows there is a growing number of initiatives promoted by universities across the EU such as the U2ES project to boost skills by the University of Namur in Belgium and numerous national “observatories” for soft skills development in Spain and France. Nevertheless, as much as 75% of UK undergraduate students believe their courses do not supply them with essential employability skills. Thus, complementary soft skills development tools are necessary to fill in the soft skills gap.
3) Many educational institutions and training suppliers provide online learning services in the form of e-learning courses (e.g. LinkedIn Learning) and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). However, without any guidance, most users will not know what course to choose and how to make the most out of the knowledge and skills learned. Furthermore, progression and validation of soft skills development becomes quite challenging, especially in the long-term as most courses will last for very short periods of time. Finally, like with any other online training provider, these courses are typically individually priced which presents a significant barrier to adoption and use.
4) Most digital platforms serve as question-and-answer (Q&A) websites which cover a multitude of topics including in many cases soft skills development (e.g. Reddit, Quora, Zhihu, to name a few). Although these options try to create strong communities among users globally, the content is typically too general and does not address personal needs. As a result, users cannot benefit from a personalised soft skills development experience.
On the other hand, QDOOZ goes beyond the state-of-the-art by providing end-users, for the first time, with personalised content to develop their specific needs through an inclusive, easily accessible and affordable platform. After years analysing what employees and employers want and businesses need to succeed, QDOOZ have determined that the key qualities and soft skills required to advance in life and career. Users map their goals and track their progress and our content partners provide the most relevant, actionable content available to move them forward along their chosen path. Unlike traditional publisher (PUSH) models, our expertise and algorithms tailor content, based entirely on what our members want to learn about 24/7.
Soft skills are increasingly becoming more important for society as rapid advances in technology and dynamics in the labour market require individuals to be more flexible, adapt quickly and succeed in more complex professions. It has been shown that soft skills can increase the productivity of workers and therefore contribute positively to the overall economy. In the UK, the gross value-added to the UK economy from soft skills is calculated to be worth approximately €127 billion p.a. by 2020, representing 7% of the whole economy. However, the current deficiency in soft skills across the workforce present a significant socio-economic threat. This project helps professionals, students and the general public to develop and enhance the much-demanded soft skills, allowing them to achieve their true potential as well as their personal and professional goals. By promoting the development of soft skills, we will also improve the overall well-being of individuals and reduce work-related stress levels which will lead to happier and fulfilling lives. Furthermore, this project directly addresses many political initiatives such as the “New Skills Agenda for Europe” and the Recommendation of the European Parliament on “key competences”.
