Recent Blog Posts
VERSA. Deliverables
- 25 de julio de 2023
- by Admin VERSA
- in Results, Soft skill, Training, VERSA Project
Once the VERSA project has come to an end, the official documents sent to the European Commission are published here, with...
Module 8. The Coaching session
- 28 de noviembre de 2022
- by Admin VERSA
- in Coaching, Soft skill, Training, VERSA Project
As always, in each module a coaching session is applied to better integrate the learning and development of the focus soft...
What is VERSA Project about?
Video games for Skills training or VERSA, is an international educational project that has received funding from the European’s Union Horizon 2020 Science with & for Society Call (SwafS-2020 Topic 8) under grant agreement No.101006420.
It aims specifically at developing soft skills related to entrepreneurship and open science through the use of commercial video games and the softskills.games methodology from Gecon.es Foundation. The target are PhD students from the different universities of the Aurora Network that participate in the project and are part of the consortium, specifically the Universitat Rovira i Virgili – URV (Tarragona, Spain), University of Innsbruck – UIBK (Innsbruck, Austria) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – VU (Amsterdam, The Netherlands).
My experience with module 1 is like a roller coaster. In the beginning, I found it very difficult to enjoy since this game is not very friendly to people to is nauseous with 3D. I even considered quitting this module. However, as time goes by, I gradually overcame this feeling and caught the key to solve the problem. I am pretty much enjoying it before I finish this module.
VU Great concept of improving your soft skills and competences through playing videogames!
VU The VERSA course was a lot of fun! It was really nice to have something that is a bit different to the usual lectures. Discussing with other participants during the training sessions was very interesting as well.
Anna E.
UIBK Although I am not really a gamer, I have to say I enjoyed the course a lot! I even kept playing the game after the course ended. Moreover, it really helped me to think outside the box and see life-problems in a different perspective. I would recommend it 100% 🙂
Maria R.
UIBK The most difficult thing in life is to know oneself, however the VERSA project makes it easier to understand oneself, our strengths, weaknesses, and the capabilities we ignore. This is a worthy project for any PhD student to undertake to help in determining which aspect of themselves they need to put more effort in improving and gain a broader perspective of themselves, their reaction to situations and relationship with others.
Regan C.
URV My opinion about the VERSA Project is of gratitude. I have had the opportunity to develop soft skills such as: creativity, critical thinking, complex problem solving and time management through video games, which is something I would have never imagined. I have noticed the results of my participation and the improvement in my abilities to develop activities related to my research, as well as in everyday life situations.
I think it is a useful project, which I hope can continue to be replicated in other universities and give the opportunity to more doctoral students to participate. I recommend the activities carried out in the VERSA project to all doctoral, master's and undergraduate students.
Génesis G.
URV It is very rewarding to see how the students enjoy developing their soft skills and how much fun they have during coaching sessions, even though they are on Zoom
VU I have never believed in video games as tools to develop or increase soft skills. After I joined the VERSA project, I did not only change my mind, but I also enjoyed my time playing together and discussing about them with my colleagues.
Finding creative solutions and trying hard before giving up are only two of the soft skills I have strengthen during the VERSA courses.
Cecilia B.
UIBKVERSA offers an alternative for academic training of soft skills through the use of commercial, fun and dynamic video games. In addition, this training is complemented with a pre-post test model to establish a baseline of skills, as well as a coaching session to improve awareness and transfer of learning.
