Introduction to program

Introduction to the program. Skills for the 21st-century workplace

Have you got the skills you need for the 21st-century workplace?
Beyond hard skills and formal qualifications employers are often concerned about the lack of transversal competences that current employees (or prospective new hires) need to perform various tasks successfully. Better and more sophisticated competences will bring greater autonomy, together with the ability for self-management and handle work load, leading to a more balanced and healthy life for the participants. Moreover, the project will promote better working patterns in the partner institutions, contributing to the improvement of the offered services with a huge positive impact on students and their families.
We need to develop all kinds of skills to survive in the 21st century. Some, like ICT skills and knowledge of the digital world, are taught explicitly in schools. Here are five less obvious ones for you to think about. These are the sorts of skills that employers may ask you questions about in interviews, so it’s a good idea to think about how good you are in these areas. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Imagination

In the age of technology, that we are living in now, it is no longer enough to keep on making the same products. Employers need people who can imagine new approaches and new ideas.

Think: Think of an object or gadget you use every day. How could it be improved? Can you think of three improvements?

Problem Solving

Employers will value workers who are able to see problems before they happen and come up with creative solutions.

Think: Imagine you are organising an end-of-term social event at school. Think of some problems that you could face. Can you think of any solutions?

Communication Skills

Workers will have to be good communicators. They will have to be able to negotiate and discuss key issues and also write in a clear way without using too many words.

Think: How do people communicate with each other in the 21st century?

Critical Analysis

Employers want workers who are able to recognise the difference between information that can be believed and false information.

Think: Use the internet to find out three facts about a celebrity or famous figure. Can you verify the information by checking other websites?

Decision Making

Individual workers have a growing amount of responsibility. It is important to be able to evaluate a situation and be confident in making a decision.

Think: Which three things could you do to (a) be healthier (b) do better at school and (c) help others? Make a decision now to do at least one of these things. Then … just do it!

Why this program

The ALLsoSKILLED program has been designed to help adult learners with more than 35 years of age, regardless of the sex and nationality, with more than 35 years of age and in employment, unemployed or economically inactive, and offer a new way to increase a wide set of skills at once, aiming directly at what is needed to compete in today’s labour market.

What is different?

Beyond hard skills and formal qualifications employers are often concerned about the lack of transversal competences that current employees (or prospective new hires) need to perform various tasks successfully. Better and more sophisticated competences will bring greater autonomy, together with the ability for self-management and handle work load, leading to a more balanced and healthy life for the participants. Moreover, the project will promote better working patterns in the partner institutions, contributing to the improvement of the offered services with a huge positive impact on students and their families.

The Methodology

The innovation of the present approach is given by the possibility for adult learners to get information on soft skills that are not usually taught to them, if not in specific courses (leadership, public speaking, negotiations…) that are not appealing to ‘the general public’ who needs to have a better all-around individual preparation. The project specifically addresses the lack of a comprehensive learning program addressing adults specifically, offering also the possibility to learn by their peers, get life coaching tips, and increase those skills needed in the contemporary digital world. The innovative assessment method will teach them to be responsible for their peers’ learning.

The digital solutions will make it easier for learning professionals and training companies to update contents, adjusting the learning provision according to the market needs, monitor learning progress and perform assessment and evaluation of learning results. Adult learners can learn contents in class and then re-read them in their own time, supported by peers or by educators

What will you learn?

Increase all-around employability skills, the so called “21st century workplace skills”
Increase digital abilities; how to use new communication tools in work-related situations. Computer literacy involves basic skills like using emails, browsing the internet effectively and using office applications that are now a minimum requirement for many jobs.
Increase the ability to gain data and information, understand how to maximize cognitive functioning using a variety of tools and techniques.
Understand how organizations function and how to fit it. Understand one’s role in an organization and be part of a team.
Increase the ability to respond to unique unexpected circumstances, adapt to changes, and negotiate ones position in relation with the changed situation. Deal with risks, conflicts, mange stress…