Assessing the Development of Soft Skills Among HEI Students in the VAKEN Process Preliminary Findings from Three Sprint weeks

CC Tigerstedt; B Petjärv; Karen Malene Andreasen; M Forsström; M Lescevica; H Kiis; D Karlaite; VKV Kristjansdottir; HB Hjalmarsdottir; ME Auer; UR Cukierman; EV Vidal; ET Caro

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_5

Assessing the Development of Soft Skills Among HEI Students in the VAKEN Process Preliminary Findings from Three Sprint weeks

CC Tigerstedt
, B Petjärv
, Karen Malene Andreasen
, M Forsström
, M Lescevica
, H Kiis
, D Karlaite
, VKV Kristjansdottir
, HB Hjalmarsdottir
, ME Auer (Editor)
, UR Cukierman (Editor)
, EV Vidal (Editor)
, ET Caro (Editor)

Multimediedesigneruddannelsen

ARCADA
Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences
University of Akureyri

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution to proceeding

Abstract

Soft skills are essential for success in the modern workplace, encompassing interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication abilities necessary for effective collaboration. In the VAKEN project, we developed a process to train and assess soft skills within a real-life context, guided by coaches and in collaboration with companies. Our objective was to enhance soft skills during a five-day sprint focused on a company problem. This paper aims to investigate students' perceptions of developing creativity, personal leadership, complex problem solving, and critical thinking through the VAKEN process and its sprints. Specifically, we explore how students perceive the development of soft skills before and after the Sprint Week. Data collection involved self- and peer-reviewed assessments, and daily reflective diaries. The first sprint resulted in enhanced problem-solving skills, while critical thinking improved in the second sprint and creativity in the third. Across all sprints, personal leadership exhibited the least improvement according to student perceptions.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education
Number of pages	12
Publisher	Springer
Publication date	Feb 2024
Pages	41-52
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_5
Publication status	Published - Feb 2024

Series	Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume	899
ISSN	2367-3370

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_5

Cite this

Tigerstedt, CC., Petjärv, B., Andreasen, K. M., Forsström, M., Lescevica, M., Kiis, H., Karlaite, D., Kristjansdottir, VKV., Hjalmarsdottir, HB., Auer, ME. (Ed.), Cukierman, UR. (Ed.), Vidal, EV. (Ed.), & Caro, ET. (Ed.) (2024). Assessing the Development of Soft Skills Among HEI Students in the VAKEN Process Preliminary Findings from Three Sprint weeks. In Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education (pp. 41-52). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_5

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abstract = "Soft skills are essential for success in the modern workplace, encompassing interpersonal, problem-solving, and communication abilities necessary for effective collaboration. In the VAKEN project, we developed a process to train and assess soft skills within a real-life context, guided by coaches and in collaboration with companies. Our objective was to enhance soft skills during a five-day sprint focused on a company problem. This paper aims to investigate students' perceptions of developing creativity, personal leadership, complex problem solving, and critical thinking through the VAKEN process and its sprints. Specifically, we explore how students perceive the development of soft skills before and after the Sprint Week. Data collection involved self- and peer-reviewed assessments, and daily reflective diaries. The first sprint resulted in enhanced problem-solving skills, while critical thinking improved in the second sprint and creativity in the third. Across all sprints, personal leadership exhibited the least improvement according to student perceptions.",

author = "CC Tigerstedt and B Petj{\"a}rv and Andreasen, \{Karen Malene\} and M Forsstr{\"o}m and M Lescevica and H Kiis and D Karlaite and VKV Kristjansdottir and HB Hjalmarsdottir and ME Auer and UR Cukierman and EV Vidal and ET Caro",

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Tigerstedt, CC, Petjärv, B, Andreasen, KM, Forsström, M, Lescevica, M, Kiis, H, Karlaite, D, Kristjansdottir, VKV, Hjalmarsdottir, HB, Auer, ME (ed.), Cukierman, UR (ed.), Vidal, EV (ed.) & Caro, ET (ed.) 2024, Assessing the Development of Soft Skills Among HEI Students in the VAKEN Process Preliminary Findings from Three Sprint weeks. in Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education. Springer, Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 899, pp. 41-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_5

Assessing the Development of Soft Skills Among HEI Students in the VAKEN Process Preliminary Findings from Three Sprint weeks. / Tigerstedt, CC; Petjärv, B; Andreasen, Karen Malene et al.
Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education. Springer, 2024. p. 41-52 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Vol. 899).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution to proceeding

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Tigerstedt CC, Petjärv B, Andreasen KM, Forsström M, Lescevica M, Kiis H et al. Assessing the Development of Soft Skills Among HEI Students in the VAKEN Process Preliminary Findings from Three Sprint weeks. In Towards a Hybrid, Flexible and Socially Engaged Higher Education. Springer. 2024. p. 41-52. (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, Vol. 899). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-51979-6_5