Soft skills such as creativity, communication abilities, or adaptability play an increasingly important role in our society. They are key not only to the success of individuals, but also to the development of organizations and communities. Within the x-Inno Radar project, CIKE, together with international partners, will focus on developing strategies to support the growth of soft skills in the Košice region and in the Central European context.
On 25 October 2024, an expert advisory group met in Košice with the aim of mapping the current situation in the area of soft skills in the Košice Region, identifying present needs, and exploring possibilities for further cooperation among stakeholders from different sectors.
Diverse actors took part in the discussion
The group welcomed a broad range of participants, including representatives of regional development agencies, creative and cultural organizations, business entities, and local government. Among those present were representatives of organizations such as the Košice Self-Governing Region, OZ Stroj, Tabačka, the Regional Development Agency, the Košice Region Innovation Centre, SUVko coaching, SBA, and AmCham. The debate was led by the experienced facilitator Zuzana Kupcová.
The main objective of the meeting was to identify activities and projects already supporting soft-skill development in the region and to map out space for their further growth. We considered which other organizations could get involved in the topic and what specific needs individual actors currently have. During the discussion, participants split into three working groups, each bringing unique perspectives and conclusions.
Meaningful conclusions
One of the key findings was that soft skills are not yet sufficiently prioritized in the region. For many companies, organizations, or individuals, they remain a marginal topic. Those present agreed that there is a lack of awareness of their importance and motivation to invest in their development.
Another problem is the lack of top-down support, especially within the school system, where soft skills should be integrated from basic education onward. It also became clear that many employers expect employees to arrive at work already equipped with these abilities, yet the education system itself does not develop them adequately.
Opportunities exist, but cooperation and activity are needed
However, the focus group also identified significant opportunities. The most important include strengthening cooperation across sectors, using digital tools for education, and creating grant programs that would support projects aimed at soft skills. Participants also discussed concrete activity proposals, such as mapping labour-market needs, creating an e-shop for creative professionals linked with a workshop offer, or organizing a large expo event in spring 2025 where these activities could be presented to the public.
Discussion outputs will feed into project activities
The next steps of the x-Inno Radar project will involve translating the outputs from this discussion into specific pilot activities. A key task will be to clearly communicate the added value of cooperation to all involved parties and to ensure that project results become practically usable.
The x-Inno Radar focus group brought valuable insights pointing to the need for systematic development of soft skills in the Košice Region. These skills are essential for the competitiveness and innovation potential of the region. The project represents an important step toward making soft skills part of the broader social discussion and regional development.
Project is supported by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.