By implementing the Future Skills Cockpit (FSC VET) project, we aimed to develop a tool on European level tailored to the future labour market. The FSC tool was designed to help European career starters reflect on their competencies and identify the transversal skills needed for their future careers. This enables users to design and visualize their personal learning journeys, enhancing their employability through innovative elearnings. The tool also aimed to increase digital competence and promote self-determined learning. The project incorporated feedback from its target groups throughout its development to ensure relevance and effectiveness. We sought to improve the professional qualifications of young professionals, thereby boosting their career opportunities in the European labour market. Long-term effects were aimed at using participative and digital methods, adapting to holistic skills profiles, and leveraging synergies with organizations across various sectors. Ultimately, the FSC tool aimed to bridge the gap to working life, enhancing competitiveness and contributing to the European Skills Agenda.
Rapidly advancing digitalisation and globalisation as well as the ongoing change in values in Europe and worldwide are changing our view of work and the skills required for a variety of jobs. The OECD already highlighted 2021 in their Skills Outlook report the growing importance of transversal competencies over professional competencies for future labour market success. It emphasized skills such as communication, organisational skills, problem-solving or leadership. These competencies are vital for individuals to navigate the changing labour market needs and life circumstances, while also considering the effects of technology on existing skills inequalities. Therefore, a new mindset was and is still needed, requiring employees to couple their professional knowledge with social, personal, and methodological competencies to optimize new work structures, methods, and processes. To address these needs, we and our project partners aimed to develop an online tool to help young professionals across Europe acquire essential future skills, reducing the discrepancy between acquired and demanded qualifications in the European labour market.