In November 2025, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University hosted a one-day soft skills training for external stakeholders within the framework of the Erasmus+ CBHE project “Development of Soft Skills at Higher Education Institutions of Armenia and Georgia in Compliance with the 21st Century Labour Market Requirements (DeSIRe)”.

The training was based on the project’s common soft skills package and its content, jointly developed by universities from Armenia and Georgia in cooperation with EU partner institutions (UGR, TUD, LUT, IADT). Participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves, within a single day, with the content of several core modules and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Drawing on examples from their own professional practice, they explored such competencies as media and digital literacy, equality, diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurial thinking, setting priorities and decision-making, creativity and problem-solving, effective communication and negotiation, reflective thinking, and emotional and social intelligence.

According to participants, the training was distinguished by its compact yet rich content, practically oriented examples, and interactive format. They particularly emphasized the importance of deepening systematic partnerships between BSU and local employers in order to bring graduates’ competencies even closer to the dynamic requirements of the labour market.

The main aim of the “DeSIRe” project is to develop soft and multidisciplinary skills at universities that are aligned with the challenges of the 21st-century labour market and contribute to strengthening a culture of social engagement, inclusion, and innovative collaboration. For BSU, the training delivered for external stakeholders represents an important step toward reinforcing cooperation between the university and the labour market, improving graduates’ employment prospects, and expanding partnership networks in the region.