The Pro-Skills’ background

theory & philosophy

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

World rapid change requiring more special competences

+Global financial crisis

=Large number of vulnerable people at great risk

of inactivity, social exclusion and social benefits’ dependence!

These people are not unskilled but, because being victims of specific conditions or entire society, perceive themselves as

powerless.

It’s fundamental to offer them the opportunity to work on and enhance basic skills.

Empowerment

The aim is to empower and connect people to take active part in changing conditions in their life.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

• WHO definition: abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life

• important protective factors to help people not to get lost in adversity

• maintaining self-esteem and self-confidence, internal locus of control and a sense of life purpose as well as social support from family, friends and community

• may be directed towards personal actions or actions towards others, as well as towards actions to change the surrounding environment making it conducive to health

Life-skills

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

It is demonstrated that life-skills programmes improve learning processes and teaching methods.

Life-skills education is based on studies conducted on the way human grow and learning,

acquisition of knowledge, attitudes, skillsand behave…

Life-skills in Lifelong Learning

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

life-skills education improves self-

efficacy

life-skills education improves self-

efficacy

self-efficacy asself-confidence

towards learning

self-efficacy is notan innate capacity

but it is learnt during life-time,can increase or be reduced depending on life-events

life-long learning process

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

Empowermentempowerment

Maintain socialsupport

LIFE-SKILLS

Learning

LIFE-LONG LEARNING

Copinglife-events

SELF-EFFICACY

EMPOWERMENT

Changesituation

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

Life-skills are related to the sense of empowerment

“the process by which people increase control over events that influence their lives”

SELF-EFFICACYSelf-regulation

Self-efficacy and self-regulation are strictly related

to the possibility to use one’s own competences and resources and activate life-skills.

On the other hand life-skills are necessary to be able to face problems and situations and improve self-efficacy.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

The focus on personal key competences to manage life-events also affects the capacity of organizations, groups with similar

interests and community to influence life-environment and health behaviour.

Pro-Skills’ interest is also in the change of societal structures.

Pro-Skills training of basic skills in socially disadvantaged adults

aims at promoting an “inclusive” perspective into society.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

This specific view of society and human beings makes Pro-Skills concept based on certain ethical, philosophical and

pedagogical aspects.

These views must be communicated to our participants to obtain legitimacy, as a first step towards learning.

Every human being has the right to decide about his own process of development and learning.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

These philosophical and ethical principles alsoguide Pro-Skills’ methodology and concept of Lifelong Learning.

This coherence can help a change in learning process and societal structures, not only get people ready for the

market.

Our aim with Pro-Skills training is to add value in life and in health.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

Pro-Skills concept is a piece of work in progress that needs further development and improvement.

We are aware that it should be integrated into a wider programme of interventions, enhancing

stakeholders' involvement and social dialogue at different levels

between public services (social and health), education and training providers

to address the high goal of a more fair and healthy society.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy

By testing this training proposal,

trainers who want to embrace the Pro-Skills concept and philosophy could have the opportunity to discuss and reflect

upon their role within the complex learning

and social needs of this changing world.

Pro-Skills’ background philosophy