Erasmus SKILL Project (2020-2023)

Project Summary

In the context of rapid socio-economic change, exponential advances in technology, and the burgeoning ICT sector of the emerging fourth industrial revolution, business leaders identify a growing need for managers and employees who possess soft skill capacities, such as critical thinking and people management, amongst other skills. Yet, most ICT small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-firms cannot afford soft skills training programs especially in these difficult times. The project aimed to address the soft skills gap and to increase the competitiveness of ICT SMEs and micro-firms. In doing so, this project offered an ICT sector soft skills framework and an innovative, engaging ICT soft skills curriculum with teaching and learning resources that are all freely-available via a device-agnostic e-learning platform.

The project partnership included seven teams of locally, nationally, and internationally-recognized experts representing universities, SMEs, e-training organizations, non-profit foundations, and VET providers from 6 countries: Malta, Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and Slovenia. Product testers included about 65 employees, managers, and trainees from ICT sector SMEs and micro-firms, VET organizations, and other training providers recruited through the partnership network. Multiplier events include another 150 to 240 participants from ICT sector SMEs, micro-firms, and associations, VET training programs, and policymakers, Commission, European Council, and other relevant EU representatives.

The SKILLS project aims to provide people involved in the ICT field (or willinging to be involved), mainly in SMEs, with the resources needed to enhance their soft skills fulfilling the segment’s demand. Read here to know more about our objectives.

IABL was represented in this project through our world-renouned subject matter experts and reserchers that included Prof. Mohamed Ally, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Agnieszka (Aga) Palalas, Ed.D., and Anastasia Mavraki.

The following are resources produced by the SKILL project:

Identify soft skills shortages and knowledge gaps in the ICT sector through a needs analysis that will be conducted in all the partner countries.
A soft skills curriculum for ICT employees and entrepreneurs that incorporates open pedagogies and define desired participant soft skill competencies, such as critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving, and will specify the desired learning outcomes.
Online digital soft skill learning resources for educators along with training on the most effective methodology to approach the theme with their students.
Learning scenarios, based on the proposed curriculum: This will help to enhance engagement and involvement of the learners. Learners will be required to apply their subject knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in real-world scenarios.
Simulations and mini games used for the development of soft skills in the ICT sector based upon the proposed learning curriculum. These processes are particularly important in soft skills training, as they enable the employee to make decisions, act upon them, and witness the outcomes in a virtual environment rather than in real life, where a wrong decision or miscommunication can have an adverse effect.
Interactive learning area with user-friendly resources using an interface containing all the other resources developed by the project.
A handbook to guide educators and learners on how to use the products generated from this project and on boosting education digitally.

Erasmus+ Presentation in Kavala (Jan 2023), showing a full room and Dr. Ally Presenting

Photo showing Koni Drampala (IABL Treasurer), George Kormpas (IABL President), Anastasia Mavraki (IABL Researcher), and Chryssa Lazou (IABL Vice President)

Dr. Avgousto Tsinakos (Hellenic International University) presenting at the podium

Our collaboration with partner institutions culminated in a variety of project deliverables, as well as multiple local presentations and one-day conferences that had as a goal the dissemination of our innovative work!

IABL's wrap-up conference took place on February 23, 2023 at the Hellenic International University campus, where talks and presentations were held, focusing on the future of work, soft skills, and IABL's contributions and research to this multimational effort.

The event was covered by local media outlets Proini News, and Kavala News. The evening event's schedule is posted on the right, and photos from the event are pictured above.

To find out more about the SKILLs project, please visit the project homepage at: https://skillproject.eu/