The main objective of StartIT was to develop, test, and disseminate a teaching methodology that fosters soft and future skills through project-based learning. This included organizing short-term international mobilities, developing a textbook and teaching materials, publishing scientific articles, and documenting case studies. The project aimed to offer a replicable model that can be adopted by other higher education institutions.
The StartIT project was initiated to respond to a widely acknowledged gap in higher education: the lack of systematic development of soft and future skills, especially in the context of digital entrepreneurship. Studies by the OECD and the European Commission have highlighted that while graduates often possess technical knowledge, they frequently lack transversal competences such as teamwork, adaptability, creative problem-solving, and intercultural communication — all of which are crucial for employability in a rapidly changing labor market. The need was confirmed by consultations within the partner institutions, employer feedback, and review of relevant frameworks such as the EntreComp and DigComp models. StartIT aimed to address these needs by developing and testing an active learning methodology that combines entrepreneurship, digital innovation, and soft skill development in international, interdisciplinary settings.