SOFTEN
Embedding Soft Skills in STEM Academic Curricula for the Transition to Sustainable Green Economy
Welcome to the
Soften Project
The Soften Project is an EU-financed initiative under Erasmus+ KA220 Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education obtained by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (National Agency of the Erasmus+ programme and the European Solidarity Corps).
The project began in November 2022 and is set to run for 36 months, concluding in October 2025.
Coordinated by the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław, Poland, the project brings together six partners from five different countries:
• INOVA+, Portugal
• STIMMULI for Social Change, Greece
• Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
• MB Homo Eminens, Lithuania
• Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland
• Politecnico di Milano, Italy
The transition to a climate-neutral ecosystem demands to rethink the way we operate across all sectors. In this context, the role of HEIs is essential to foster the green skills of both educators and students. Green skills are critical for instilling a green culture and equipping learners with innovative “green” tools to become agents of climate adaptation. They are the key for the interconnection with green industries which means the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable economy.
Investing in education in green skills is an imperative and HEIs must be able to develop high-quality green competences to students. The urgency is higher for STEM faculties, since these are where most green sectors are emerging
Why
SOFTEN solutions and materials are developed for and with STEM educational providers – both institutions, and professor and students – and green industries
Objectives
1
Develop sustainable and green competencies to enhance STEM educational providers and, indirectly, young learners.
2
Improve STEM educational providers’ professional development in innovative teaching methodologies for soft skills.
3
Foster effective collaboration between universities and the green industry, building sustainable partnerships.
Targets
Stem education providers
HE professors, researchers and staff in sustainable studies
STEM students and graduates
Green Industry representatives and Environmental NGO’s
Educational policy makers
Eco-entrepreneurs
Students from SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) disciplines
All stakeholders and actors interested in the theme
Results
SOFTEN Framework
for embedding soft skills in STEM HEIs, after identifying existing gaps in STEM curricula and highlighting the soft skills which are actually needed by green industries
Green Mentors Training Academy
including, among other a MOOC (as capacity building program) for STEM educational providers and train them in innovative pedagogies (e.g., Environmental Service-Learning) for cultivating soft skills
Soft Green Skills
e-Platform
which will be addressed primarily to STEM educational providers in HEIs in Europe for lasting networking and knowledge exchange activities for promoting replication and diffusion of the project’s results
What are soft skills?
Softs skills generally refer to teamwork, collaboration, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, work ethic, persistence, emotional intelligence, creativity, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution and organisational skills (e.g., Schulz, 2008; Mason et al., 2009; Mitchell et al., 2010; Karimi & Piña, 2021).