Cards
Flexibility is a competence that describes the ability to adapt to changing situations in order to cope with different circumstances. This involves knowledge of the moving nature of life itself, about different environments as well as one’s own capabilities and one’s behavioural strategies. Being open minded and having trust in one’s own strengths are attitudes that allow you to adapt as situations evolve, thus reducing stress.
Decision Making: The decision-making competence consists in being able to choose the best option among several to achieve the desired objective. The development of the competence goes beyond mere decision, it is about deciding systematically, committing and being consistent. When making a decision, needs, values, motivations, influences, and possible consequences must be taken into account.
Taking initiative: The competence describes the ability to form and conduct life plans and personal projects. The learner proactively identifies ways and acts to address problems and opportunities. They demonstrate motivation and tenacity in achieving objectives. They are ready to embark on new tasks.
Teamwork: The learner is competent in interacting with others. In teamwork, the individual respects the specific backgrounds, competences and skills of others and has the ability to act as a team player. This involves verbal and non-verbal communication skills like assertiveness, clarity and active listening, as well as an awareness of diversity. They acknowledge the potential of teamwork, seeing it as an efficient way of working together and as a source of creativity. They are also determined to contribute to a successful result. They are aware of the roles and capabilities of others and act accordingly.
Resilience: The learner is competent in mobilising resources and finding solutions in order to quickly recover from change, difficulties and adapt to new life contexts. This involves knowledge of main values and characteristics of the new environment, as well as one’s own capabilities and resources to create opportunities for oneself. The learner is able to act accordingly, adapt and develop strategies to set up plans in different life and working contexts. She/ he includes not only a process of reacting and adapting to change but being able to be whole with one’s identity and goals.
Having a positive attitude towards the future is a key to turn challenges into opportunities and adapt successfully to new situations.
Managing diversity: The learner is competent in managing, recognizing and valuing heterogeneity and diversity in groups based on the historical, social, economic, religious or spiritual, learning needs/ abilities, motivations, prior experience and knowledge, age and gender or physical, psycho-emotional backgrounds of the group.
This includes understanding and respecting differences and the ability to incorporate or obviate any difference in the learning process. The learner is self-aware and has the ability to see others’ points of view, to value diverse experiences, to recognize the challenges and the complexities of diversity and have the willingness to engage in it.
Furthermore, the learner is interested in others’ experiences and has the ability to analyse the behaviour of a group, to identify possible problems and conflicts and to act strategically to prevent and/or manage possible conflicts.
Self-awareness: The ability to understand one’s own identity, emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence interpersonal constructive relations. This includes capacities to recognize one’s strengths, limitations and emotions with a well-grounded sense of confidence and purpose.
Problem solving consists of actions, attitudes and knowledge, which are goal-directed in complex situations with no easy solutions. Even if the final goal is clearly defined, the problem solver might not be aware of all steps towards its achievement.
The problems might vary in complexity and might require different resources. Therefore, the problem solver needs to analyse the issues in order to identify and choose solutions to problems which occur in their specific situation.
In order to be completed successfully the problem solver needs to be motivated to solve the problem and curious enough to find the solutions. Problem solving with others allows for the solutions to be found at a faster pace, as everyone mobilises their own knowledge, skills in a combined effort.
Reliability describes someone who is dependable and eager to take responsibility, as well as someone who manages to build relationships based on trust. Reliability also refers to the commitment given when working or collaborating with others. This means that a person is able to communicate appropriately and fulfil their commitments on time, which helps them build and maintain healthy relationships both in private and professional settings.
Intercultural communication is based on the awareness of the different backgrounds that people may have, and that these may influence our behaviour in relationships and interactions, including professional ones. Intercultural communication also relates to ways of interacting and sharing information with others from different cultural, religious, social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. It is supported by specific attitudes and affective features, (inter)cultural knowledge, skills and reflection. The learner is aware that culture determines how individuals encode messages, what medium they choose for transmitting them, and the way messages are interpreted.