Empowering Teacher Self-Learning Group Leaders Across Europe through Soft Skills Development
We are excited to share updates from the Erasmus+ project “Soft Skills for High Quality Education”, led by ISSA Member Institute of Educational Sciences (ERI) in Slovenia. Running from November 2023 to July 2026, the project brings together ISSA members and education professionals from Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, and Estonia, and the ISSA Network-Hub, working to enhance the quality of education through the development of soft leadership skills among TSLG (Teacher Self-Learning Group) leaders.
The project aims to:
- Strengthen soft leadership skills for more effective facilitation and management of TSLGs.
- Raise awareness of how these skills contribute to higher quality education and successful collaboration.
The project brings together:
- Hea Algus and Kõrveküla lasteaed Päikeseratas (Estonia)
- Open Academy Step by Step and Kindergarten Savica (Croatia)
- Skola Dokoran – Wide Open School and institutions from Obec Spissky Hrhov (Slovakia)
- Educational Research Institute and Kindergarten Pobrežje (Slovenia)
A key milestone was the in-person partner meeting in Tartu, Estonia (November 6–8, 2023), where group leaders exchanged practices, visited local kindergartens and educational institutions, and explored cultural landmarks. The meeting also marked the launch of a professional learning community (iPLC)—a dedicated space for TSLG leaders across countries to connect, reflect, and grow together.
Led by Slovenian trainer Janja Zupančič, 12 group leaders engaged in online reflection sessions focused on developing essential soft skills such as communication, flexibility, coaching, and problem-solving.
The second iPLC session, held on January 31, brought together three group leaders from each country to collaboratively address a real professional challenge, reinforcing the importance of shared learning and peer advice.
The journey continues, with upcoming virtual sessions deepening the international collaboration and supporting TSLG leaders in becoming confident facilitators of teacher-driven learning and development.
