Soft skills for science and technology students: A pedagogical experience

In the academic year 2012–2013, the Faculty of Science and Technology of the New University of Lisbon (FCT/UNL) conducted a complete revision of its curriculum, with the goal of enhancing the training of its students and increasing the employability of its graduates. In its new profile, the FCT/UNL now includes three distinct teaching periods in an academic year, with the introduction of a five-week period between the two traditional semesters. During this period, several transferrable skills courses are taught in an intensive regimen. In this article, we present the motivations that led to the creation of the course entitled “CTCT — Transferable Skills for Science and Technology”, its incorporation into the new curricular profile of the FCT/UNL, its main objectives, and its syllabus. We also present the methods used in the allocation of students to classes and groups and the feedback from teachers and students participating in the course.