Employers often report that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates lack 21st-century skills, which hinders their ability to innovate and adapt in an increasingly uncertain world. Therefore project “Be-21-Skilled” set out to foster 21st century skills by upskilling both higher education institution STEM teachers and students.
These 21st century skills enable individuals to handle complex problems, devise innovative solutions, and manage interpersonal relationships effectively. With automatization becoming more prevalent, the ability to perform tasks that require these skills becomes increasingly important.
The first step of the project involved identifying the most important 21st century skills through a Europe-wide survey. Among the top skills identified were critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, digital literacy, and socio-emotional competencies.
Building on the findings, the project team developed a comprehensive toolkit for higher education teachers and program managers. This step-by-step guide provides practical, real-world, problem-based tools to help students develop these essential skills. Additionally, the project designed a specialized program for teachers, offering a series of modules and integrated tools to enhance their own skills and their ability to teach these competencies effectively to students.
The effectiveness of these methods was tested through pilot implementations at participating institutions in Latvia and Serbia, as well as teacher training sessions. These activities allowed the project to refine and adapt its approaches to best meet the needs of educators and students alike.
Launched on February 2nd, 2022, and set to conclude on January 31st, 2025, the Erasmus+ “Be-21-Skilled” project brings together five key partners: RTU FEEM, the University of Belgrade, the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU), MOMENTUM MARKETING SERVICES LIMITED, and the European E-learning Institute (EUEI).
Read more:
The report “European Skills Panorama”: https://be21skilled.eu/skills-panorama/
The Toolkit for teachers: https://be21skilled.eu/toolkit