Soft skills programme of the University of Algarve presented at OECD seminar

24 March, 2022

The “Competences for Life” programme, developed by the University of Algarve since 2018, was presented during the International Peer Learning Seminar, at the invitation of the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

According to information available on the university’s website, the session in which the programme coordinator, Saúl de Jesus, presented the planning, was dedicated to “innovative examples on vocational guidance and successful transition to higher education”. The activity had “120 participants from 21 countries”.

The “Competences for Life” programme consists of a course that seeks to develop soft skills in students of the University of Algarve. It is a set of 12 modules, spread over three years, and in each year, four skills are developed. While 1st year students learn study methods and time management, final year students can develop skills more directed towards employability and transition to the labour market.

The programme is delivered online, with asynchronous sessions that include exercises designed to be carried out and applied in everyday life. Each module must be completed during a period of one week. The contents are also organised in a way to evaluate the trainees’ progress.

“One of the innovative features of this programme is that it seeks to develop personal and social development skills, important for the students’ present and future global life, and not only skills important for future professional activity,” the university further says.