Making Soft Skills Visible: The Story of KYSS

What makes someone successful in the workplace? Professional knowledge and technical expertise are important, but they are only part of the story. Communication, collaboration, flexibility, problem-solving and self-management are just some of the soft skills that help people navigate a rapidly changing world of work. Whether you're a student preparing for your first job, a job seeker trying to stand out or an employee looking to grow professionally, soft skills can make a real difference.

Yet, soft skills can be difficult to understand, assess and develop. How can we make them more tangible and help people reflect on their own strengths and areas for growth?

This was the starting point of Kickstart Your Soft Skills (KYSS), a project developed at AP University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp between 2018 and 2021, with support from the European Social Fund and partners including the Public Employment Services of Flanders, Belgium (VDAB).

The project resulted in a self-assessment questionnaire covering 16 soft skills, accompanied by personalised feedback reports and group reports. These reports help users understand their results, recognise how their skills translate into everyday behaviour, and identify opportunities for further development. The instrument was developed and refined through an iterative process involving research, pilot studies and collaboration with students, teachers, employment services and other practitioners.

The impact of KYSS has continued well beyond the project's official end. In the 2024–2025 academic year, the instrument was used by approximately 5,000 students across 11 Flemish higher education institutions. In 2024, more than 43,000 users accessed it through VDAB. The project has also inspired follow-up research and new applications in educational and professional contexts.

One of the key lessons from KYSS is that developing soft skills is not a one-off exercise. It starts with awareness and reflection, but meaningful development also requires opportunities for feedback, coaching and practice. Equally important is the collaboration between researchers and practitioners, which helps ensure that research remains both rigorous and relevant.

Being nominated for the EAPRIL Best Practice Based Research Award is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on this journey. It is encouraging to see how a project that began in 2018 continues to support people in understanding and developing the skills they need to thrive in a changing world of work.