Skills Development Definitions

Table of Contents

What are the Commonly Identified Life Skills

Ø	Work Skills

Ø	Three broad categories of key competencies

Ø	Competence development (Family, School, Other Settings)

Special Focus
	International Adult Literacy Survey IALS (Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey ALL) Richard Desjardins
	What are the objectives of IALS/ALL?
	Profile the level and distribution of skill in specific domains Explore the social and economic determinants of objectively assessed skills Explore the social, economic and health consequences associated with different skills levels Understand how and why skills levels and profiles differ between and within countries Understand the relationships between different types of skills Identify how skills profiles change.
	What can you do with information derived from IALS/ALL type surveys?
	These surveys have a powerful potential to deliver timely and policy relevant information. As such, they can help to formulate informed policies and decision-making concerning various issues, such as: Learning access, participation and provision The knowledge society, information age, technology and ICT Globalization, competitiveness, efficiency, growth and development Social inclusion, social cohesion, democracy and civic engagement.

What are the Commonly Identified Life Skills?

The following are by no means the sum of all possible life skills, but are common suggested categories:
• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Entrepreneurial
• HIV/AIDS awareness / prevention
• Gender sensitivity / assertiveness
• Food security
• Self-confidence
• Socialisation
• Coping with disability
• Learning to learn
• Autonomy
• Hygiene
• Nutrition
• Health
• Family planning
• Critical thinking
• Self-evaluation
• Peace skills
• Citizenship
• Personal financial management
• Environmental awareness
• Assertiveness
• Job acquisition skills

Work Skills

Any of the above would also appear in lists of work skills, although the latter might also include the following:
• Team work
• Communication
• ICT skills
• Technical SKILLS
• Resource management
• Occupational health
• Design
• Management
• Decision-making
• Time management
• Stress management
• Negotiation
• Information processing
• Foreign language skills

Three broad categories of key competencies

a. Functioning in socially heterogeneous groups
The competencies in this category are particularly relevant for creating social capital include:
• the ability to relate well to others
• the ability to cooperate, work in teams
• the ability to manage and resolve conflict

b. Acting autonomously
The following key competencies have been identified:
• the ability to act within the big picture/the larger context
• the ability to form and conduct life plans and personal projects
• the ability to assert and defend rights, needs, interests

c. Using tools interactively
The following key competencies have been identified:
• the ability to use language, symbols, and text interactively
• the ability to use knowledge and information interactively
• the ability to use (new) technology interactively

Competence development in the family, in school and other settings

Competence is developed through action and interaction in formal and informal educational contexts. Although school is and remains an important institution for providing learning and teaching opportunities, other institutions are also responsible for developing the necessary competencies and the underlying mental disposition: e.g., the family, the workplace, the mass media, religious and cultural organizations

The acquisition and maintenance of competencies is not just a matter of personal effort, it is contingent upon the existence of a material, institutional and social favorable environment and appropriate socio-economic arrangements.

It has to be recognized that investment in individually based competencies constitutes only one strategy for generating sustained socioeconomic development and improving living conditions in the world.

Economic and social policies related to the production and distribution of goods and services remain key issues