Abstract:

Start IT is a project developed by a consortium of six European Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The project is led by HTW Berlin, and financed by Erasmus+ under contract n.º 2021-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000023215. The general objective of the project is to contribute to the development of soft and digital skills in higher education students. In order to achieve such objective, innovative teaching methodologies are needed. In fact, studies shows that traditional approaches to the learning process do not seem to be successful in the development of such skills.

The innovation element in the learning process is accomplished through active learning. Students from the participating HEI take part in a mobility, where they are challenged by an external partner, that acts as a client, to encounter a solution to the problem presented. The challenge is related to sustainability. The solution should be encountered with the development of an App and an associated business plan. In order to achieve such solution, students have to work in a diverse, multidisciplinary, international and multicultural teams during 9 days. However, the main outocome is not exactly on what the students develop, but in the skills they gain working in such a context.

Start IT started in March 2022 and, at the moment, two fo these mobilities were aleady implemented. Assessment of the skills achieved by the participating was performed. Assessement was made with the use of a tool developed by a research department of AP on soft skills. The KYSS (Kick-Start of Your Soft Skills) was the questionnaire used in order to survey the students.

This paper intends to present the major findings of the first evaluations performed. Evidence appears to demonstrate the methodology implemented proved successful in some of skills, like communication, cooperation, digital skills and self reflection.

Keywords:

Active Learning, Soft skills, Digital skills, Sustainability.