Transversal skills

Transversal skills to enhance studentemployability: interdisciplinary perspective 74th Annual Conference of University of Latvia I.Karapetjana, Dr.Philol. G.Roziņa, Dr.Philol. .Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 1

Aims:1) to define the term transversal skills;2) to reveal their importance in the 21stcentury;3) to report on the Erasmus+ projectTransversal Skills in Dentistry: Content andLanguage Integrated Learning Approach.Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 2

1. Transversal skills• applied skills• cross-curricular skills• cross-disciplinary skills, interdisciplinary skills• 21st century skills• soft skills, core skills, basic skillsErasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 3

1. Transversal skills (cont.)• ‘Transversal skills and competences are relevant to a broad range of occupations and sectors.’ (ESCO) (Online 1)• ‘a set of knowledge and skills that are believed to be critically important to success in today’s world, in higher education and contemporary workplaces’. (Online 2)Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 4

1. Transversal skills (cont.)‘the ability to think critically, take initiative,problem solving and work collaboratively’ (Online 3)Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 5

2. 21st century skills• Critical thinking, problem solving, interpretation, synthesizing information;• Research skills;• Creativity;• Oral and written communication, public speaking and presenting, listening;• Leadership, teamwork, collaboration;• ITC literacy, media and internet literacy, data interpretation and analysis, etc. (Online 3)Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 6

3. Erasmus+ project• Project: Transversal Skills in Dentistry: Content and Language Integrated Learning ApproachKey action: Cooperation for innovation and theexchange of good practicesStrategic Partnerships, Strategic Partnershipsfor higher educationPeriod: 1 December 2015 – 30 November2017Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 7

Partners1) University of Latvia, Faculty of Humanities, Centre for Applied Linguistics and Faculty of Medicine;2) Polytechnic Institute of Porto, School of Accounting and Administration of Porto, Portugal;3) VU University Amsterdam, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, the Netherlands.Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 8

Goal:• to bridge the gap between the higher education offer and real-life transnational demands required by the current labour market.Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 9

Intellectual outputs1. Survey on synergies between education and practice;2. Manual on the methodology for the course Dentistry and Language Integrated Learning;3. Materials and OER for the course Dentistry and Language Integrated Learning;4. Training content;5. Project website and E- learning platform;6. Brochure.Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 10

Training Activities• Blended mobility of higher education studentsErasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 11

Innovativeness• interdisciplinary nature: • based on the life sciences (i.e. dentistry) and the humanities (i.e. languages);• CLIL approach establishes the development of transversal skills;• OERs foster the innovation in academic study processes in HEIs.Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 12

By way of conclusion: transversal skills• those that each person uses at work;• they are not specifically related to a given activity or employment;• they affect the ability of individuals to express skilful or expert professional behaviours.Erasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 13

References1. http://proiecte.ucv.ro/transmod/media/book_ of_abstracts_TRANSMOD2. http://edglossary.org/21st-century-skills/3. http://www.seecel.hr/et-2020-working- group-on-transversal-skillsErasmus+ Agreement No. 2015-I-LV01-KA203-013401 14