Soft Skills and STEM Education: Vision of the European University EURECA-PRO

Abstract

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines play an increasingly important role in the current socio-economic context. Higher education systems are working to equip students with the appropriate skills and competencies to cope with current demands and, in particular, to join a labour market strongly informed by STEM disciplines. Many such skills are non-disciplinary and are known as transversal or soft skills. Soft skills, including interpersonal and socio-emotional skills, are highly sought after in the labour market. These skills not only reflect personal abilities but also draw on concepts, such as social responsibility, creativity, ethics, and emotional intelligence. The European University on Responsible Consumption and Production (EURECA-PRO) seeks to foster soft skills development in our activities and curricula.

Resilient Strategies for Internet-Based Education: Investigating Engineering Students in the Canary Islands in the Aftermath of COVID-19

“…Regarding the social dimension, represented by peer support, a sense of belonging, and the faculty atmosphere (items f, k, and m), these highlight the importance of fostering supportive university communities that not only provide students with academic training but also promote their and emotional and social well-being. This is in keeping with existing research into student motivation in university education which highlights how students achieve best when both their academic and their well-being needs are met (e.g., [63,64], the soft skills they learn in the process being essential in their future careers [65].…”

Innovating Education: A Comprehensive Review of STEM Education Approaches

“…• Focus on Environmental and Sustainability Education: As global environmental concerns intensify, STEM education is increasingly incorporating sustainability and environmental science, teaching students to apply scientific knowledge to real-world ecological challenges (Alkair et al, 2023;Julio, 2022;Yean & Abdul Rahim, 2021). • Increased Emphasis on Soft Skills: Alongside technical proficiency, there's a growing recognition of the importance of soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and ethical reasoning within STEM education (De Campos et al, 2020;Karimi & Pina, 2021;Villán-Vallejo et al, 2022). • Personalized and Adaptive Learning: Leveraging technology to offer more personalized learning experiences that adapt to individual student's pace and style of learning is becoming more prevalent (Taylor et al, 2021;Wu et al, 2023).…”

Substantiation of the sustainable education terms as one of the modern views on STEM education taking to account the European experience

“…After the UN General Assembly's endorsement of the post-2015 development agenda, the theme of sustainability has gained prominence in reports related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education [12,13], indicating a direct link between the relevant pedagogical concepts: STEM education programmes are based on a transdisciplinary approach [14]. At the same time, the integration of disciplinary content and practical skills in the context of new technological opportunities create the conditions for applying the 21st century skills [15,16] to address sustainable development issues through the development of more efficient, elegant, scientifically sound and technologically safe methods and innovative solutions [17].…”