Soft Skills to Improve Career, Business and Employability

SOFTIMPROVE project was born from the belief that investing in entrepreneurship education—especially through the development of soft skills—is one of the most impactful strategies to enhance emplo...

The main goal of SOFTIMPROVE was to provide professionals and entrepreneurs—whether employed, unemployed, aspiring, or established—with the knowledge, tools, and practical experience scenarios to develop soft skills essential for employability, career advancement, and entrepreneurial success. The project pursued the following specific objectives: O1: Define key soft skills, understand their role in employability and entrepreneurship, and assess the needs and expectations of professionals on soft skills training. O2: Design a blended learning methodology—combining Virtual Reality and Academic Moodle approaches—supported by tools to monitor and assess learners’ soft skills development. O3: Create and pilot a Virtual Academy Moodle training course integrating theory, coaching, VR, and peer-to-peer feedback, to be tested, evaluated, and improved. O4: Develop an online learning Academy such as Coursera, adapted and original content focused on soft skills development. O5: Promote a new generation of professionals and entrepreneurs who are not only aware of the value of soft skills but also actively trained in them—conveying the message that soft skills are as critical as hard skills and can be developed through continuous learning.

To achieve the objectives of SOFTIMPROVE, the partnership carried out a set of coordinated activities across four key areas: 1. Research and Methodology Design: Partners mapped relevant soft skills, collected feedback from stakeholders, and analysed their impact on employability, career development, and entrepreneurship. They also identified the specific needs of young professionals and entrepreneurs, forming the basis for a tailored blended learning methodology. 2. Development of Training Modules and Tools: Training modules were designed to develop key soft skills, supported by a 'soft skill use library' with practical applications. Pilot sessions were implemented to test and refine the training. Innovative elements such as VR-based learning scenarios, were also introduced to enhance engagement and immersion. 3. Creation of the Digital Learning Platform: The platform’s specifications were defined, developed, and populated with both adapted and original content, including video testimonials, interactive resources, and VR scenarios. Podcasts were produced and published on Spotify and YouTube, offering an accessible and engaging learning format for a wider audience. User feedback guided further improvements. 4. Supporting Activities: The project ensured strong coordination through strategic steering, quality control, and administrative and financial management. Dissemination included multiplier events, online visibility, and content-sharing to maximise impact and outreach. All activities aimed at providing relevant, engaging soft-skills training, ultimately improving the employability and entrepreneurial potential of the target group.

SOFTIMPROVE delivered tangible results at multiple levels—knowledge, education, and dissemination—aligned with the project's core objectives. At the knowledge level, the project produced a shared terminology around soft skills and a detailed assessment of their impact on employability, career development, and entrepreneurial success. It also included a comprehensive mapping of the soft skills most needed and expected by professionals and entrepreneurs across partner countries. At the educational level, the project designed, developed, and implemented a VR-blended training programme focused on soft skills. This programme was aimed at professionals seeking employment or career growth, as well as entrepreneurs—both aspiring and experienced—looking to build or expand their businesses. Key components included: • A set of learning outcomes based on needs analysis and partner expertise, guiding the content structure and learning levels. • VR training modules are also available as podcasts on Spotify and YouTube. • An academic Moodle platform offering interactive soft skills training enriched with VR elements, practical simulations, real-case scenarios, and continuous feedback mechanisms. At the dissemination level, the project launched a dedicated website presenting the project objectives, activities, and results, with a strong focus on soft skills as a lever for employability and entrepreneurship. Additionally, five multiplier events were organised in Catalonia region and Madrid region, Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris. These events showcased the project’s outcomes, explored their pedagogical and scientific relevance, and promoted their uptake among academic institutions, vocational education providers, and the business community.