Soft Skills Assessment for Teaching Millennials and Generation Z

The primary objective of the project was to promote innovation in vocational education and training by enhancing the social skills of teachers. Recognising that teachers play a pivotal role in sha...

The primary objective of the project was to promote innovation in vocational education and training by enhancing the social skills of teachers. Recognising that teachers play a pivotal role in shaping learning environments, the project aimed to equip them with key competencies - such as communication, emotional intelligence, collaboration, and adaptability - that are essential for responding to the evolving needs of students, particularly those from Generation Z. By assessing and developing these skills, the project sought to improve teacher effectiveness, foster inclusive and engaging classrooms, and support the creation of innovative teaching practices. Ultimately, the goal was to contribute to better student outcomes, a more dynamic school climate, and a culture of continuous professional development grounded in evidence-based approaches.

All planned activities were successfully implemented across the project's WP. In WP2, partners identified key skills and developed the didactic structure, assessment tool, and training content. These were translated and converted into audio formats by each partner, with revisions made post-validation. WP3 focused on the development of the e-platform and mobile app. Usability and functionality were tested to ensure full integration of tools and resources. Pilot testing guidelines were developed, followed by national pilot tests with educators in each partner country, and feedback was reported. Dissemination activities included a project website, social media presence, newsletters, and flyers. Each partner organised multiplier events and contributed to the dissemination log and deployment plan. WP2 began with identifying core social skills for teaching Generation Z. This informed the development of the assessment tool and training content, collaboratively produced and translated by partners. WP3. involved designing the e-platform and mobile app, uploading content, and conducting usability testing. Pilot tests educators per country helped validate the tools and guide final improvements.

1 - A Dedicated multilingual web platform and mobile app - A publicly accessible digital platform (https://mgenz.eu) was created, hosting all project deliverables in six languages (English, Portuguese, German, Slovene, Slovak, and Greek). To ensure wide accessibility, all content was also made available as a mobile application, including audio-based formats suitable for use with smart-home voice assistants. This enhances accessibility, particularly for busy educators or those in remote areas. 2 - The social skills assessment tool - a key output is the innovative digital Assessment Tool, developed to help teachers identify their strengths and areas for improvement across eight core soft skill clusters. 3. Resource pack with 100+ training activities Based on the assessment outcomes, teachers can select from a Resource Pack of over 100 targeted training activities to enhance specific social skills. The materials are modular, practical, and suitable for both individual learning and team-based workshops. 4. More than seven hours of podcasts. To support awareness and ongoing engagement, the project produced over 7 hours of audio content discussing each of the eight skill clusters, explaining their relevance for teachers.