Soft skills in the Open Future programme
Our programme focuses on developing soft skills that have a significant impact on academic performance, personal growth and future career success.
Did you know that soft skills play a key role in shaping how children perform at school, at work and in their personal lives?
International research by the renowned Education Endowment Foundation highlights the importance of these skills for learning, personal development and children’s future success.
Why do we place such a strong emphasis on soft skills?
Unlike subject knowledge, which can quickly change as technology advances and society’s needs evolve, soft skills remain important throughout life. Employers are increasingly looking for people with strong communication skills, the ability to collaborate and the capacity to find creative solutions. They recognise that these personal qualities form the foundation for success in any profession.
We combine two key elements of personal development:
Feedback and self-reflection – We teach children to reflect on their own progress, understand where they are heading and consciously adjust their next steps.
Self-regulation – We help children understand their own learning processes. When children know how they learn, they can plan their work more effectively, evaluate their progress and achieve better results without unnecessary frustration.
Which soft skills do we develop at Open Future?
Critical thinking – The ability to evaluate information and question it rather than accept it at face value.
Communication and teamwork – The ability to express one’s opinion, listen to others and find common ground.
Self-awareness and self-reflection – The ability to understand one’s strengths and recognise areas for improvement.
Learning to learn – Discovering personal strategies that support continuous growth and development.
Emotional intelligence – The ability to manage one’s own emotions and show empathy towards others.
How do we help children develop soft skills?
Developing soft skills is a specific process that cannot be reduced to a set of simple rules. That is why we approach it on three interconnected levels:
1.
AS STANDALONE TOPICS
We dedicate specific time to areas such as effective learning, critical thinking and constructive conflict resolution.
2.
AS A NATURAL PART OF ALL ACTIVITIES
Skills such as communication, creativity and teamwork develop naturally through practical activities – for example, when children create their own social impact project. They collaborate, build arguments and learn from their own experiences, which we then reflect on and discuss together.
3.
INDIVIDUALLY AND ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE GROUP
Each child is supported by a coordinator who oversees their personal development profile, holds individual conversations with them and responds to the group’s current dynamics. If tensions arise between children, we dedicate a session to learning how to give constructive feedback and resolve conflicts effectively.
Learning Through Play, Experiences and Projects
We develop soft skills through non-formal education. Instead of passive listening, we use methods that come naturally to children, including group work, project-based learning, games and, above all, experiential learning.