Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2026 Newsletter
Life Skills for the Future: Preparing Students Beyond the Classroom by Figen Geçgin
Today ' s students are growing up in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, rapid technological change, and global challenges that require much more than academic success. While schools continue teaching subject knowledge, young people also need communication, collaboration, resilience, creativity, emotional awareness, and responsible digital behaviour.
This belief inspired our eTwinning project Life Skills for the Future, bringing together students aged 11 – 15 from different European countries to explore the competencies they will need throughout their lives— not only at school, but far beyond it.
Rather than teaching life skills through lectures, we created authentic learning experiences where students could practise these competencies while collaborating internationally.
Students leading their own learning One of the greatest strengths of eTwinning is that students become active participants rather than passive learners. Throughout the project, learners worked in international mixed teams, generated ideas, designed digital products, solved
real-life challenges, and reflected on their own learning. Instead of simply completing assignments, they became creators, decision-makers, and collaborators.
Watching students confidently present ideas to international partners, organise teamwork, and support one another demonstrated how quickly responsibility grows when learners are trusted with meaningful tasks. These experiences strengthened students ' confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Wellbeing matters Preparing students for the future also means helping them understand themselves. Wellbeing was therefore integrated into many project activities. Students explored emotional awareness, stress management, and positive daily habits through creative and collaborative tasks.
One memorable activity, Colours of Emotions, encouraged learners to express their feelings through colours, drawings, and personal reflections before discussing similarities and differences with
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