The GRIT project aimed to support students and young researchers in developing the resilience, motivation, and civic engagement needed to succeed in higher education and beyond. Its core objective was to enhance academic and personal growth by embedding non-cognitive skills particularly grit, into educational practices across Europe. The project also sought to empower academic institutions by providing them with innovative tools to better understand and support these needs. To achieve this, GRIT developed a Handbook on key competencies for academic success, designed a gamified learning environment through the Escape4Challenges game, and piloted a machine learning-based model to assess academic persistence and wellbeing. The combination of pedagogical innovation, civic values, and data-driven strategies promoted more inclusive, career-centered learning systems aligned with EU higher education priorities.
The GRIT project was launched in response to a growing need in European higher education for tools and strategies that strengthen students and young researchers’ resilience, motivation, and civic engagement. Universities often lack structured approaches to support the development of non-cognitive competencies such as grit, perseverance, self-efficacy, and a sense of social responsibility, especially among young researchers navigating complex academic and social challenges. These gaps are particularly evident in academic success and retention, where cognitive skills alone are insufficient. Additionally, there was a lack of initiatives that connect these personal and civic competencies with digital innovation and data-driven learning support. The GRIT consortium, made up of eight institutions from across Europe, applied to develop evidence-based, scalable tools, such as a handbook, a serious game, and sentiment analysis model that empower young and future researchers to succeed in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.