Developing 'soft skills' in higher education (PLA Notes 48)

When engaging in development work excellent interpersonal skills and an understanding of what people expect from a project are required. These are often referred to as 'soft skills', and are usually missing from the academic teaching that facilitators receive. In this paper, the authors look at two case studies and what can be learnt to improve the teaching of these skills.

Participatory Learning and Action is the world’s leading informal journal on participatory approaches. Guest editors provide up-to-the minute accounts of participatory approaches in specific fields. Since 1987, PLA has provided a forum for participatory practitioners – community workers, activists and researchers – to share experiences, reflections and methodological innovations with others, providing a genuine ‘voice from the field’.

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