The Programme
The European Union has designated 2023 as the European Year of Skills, recognising the importance of enhancing the skills of young adults. The European Commission’s 2015 and 2022 reports show a skills mismatch among young people, particularly intrapersonal soft skills, which are vital for success in the workplace and boosting productivity. Soft skills are vital for employment, retention and progression in one’s career path. They are transferable across employment opportunities and beneficial to individuals in all aspects of life and allow individuals to live independently and productively within a society. Research shows that interdisciplinary arts (performing arts, visual arts and conceptual arts) play an important role in developing improved social skills, decision-making, critical and logical thinking.Thus, the Arts for Soft Skills project will focus on enhancing young adults’ social skills, particularly in teamwork, adaptability and communication, using interdisciplinary arts.
Aligned with the European Year of Skills 2023, the Arts for Soft Skills: leveraging the power of interdisciplinary arts to strengthen young people’s soft skills project aims to strengthen the soft skills of youth workers and young people aged 18-30. The main objective of the project is to prepare youth workers and young people to use their skills effectively. As mentioned, the current century will require a very different set of skills for people to function effectively at work, as citizens and in their leisure time. According to this, the arts have a vital role to play in improving employment opportunities for young people, contributing to their personal and professional development and strengthening the European labour market. Therefore, this will be achieved through interdisciplinary arts, which will provide them with the skills, knowledge and competences needed to excel in their profession.
The objectives of the project are:
- To upgrade and retrain the social skills of young adults (18-30) in communication and adaptability through interdisciplinary arts.
- To provide non-formal training to participants and give them opportunities to develop their communication, participation, self-esteem, self-confidence and talent through the arts
- Integrate the interdisciplinary arts in promoting and enhancing adaptability and other interpersonal skills needed in the workforce
- Strengthen the skills of young people, helping them to meet the skills needs of the workforce and improve their employability
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Erasmus+ Program. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein [Project Number: 2023-1-CY02-KA210-YOU-000164877]
Partners
Handbook ”Arts and Skills Development: photography-painting-dancing”
Through the ‘Arts for Soft Skills’ project, a useful handbook has been created which brings together the benefits of developing young people’s soft skills through engagement with the arts.
Kick off meeting “Arts for Soft Skills”
KOKEN implemented the inaugural meeting of the Erasmus+ European Programme: ‘Arts and educational tools for soft skills: Discovering the power of interdisciplinary arts to enhance soft skills for young people.