Focus Group Report

Activity: Development of Visual Methodology Mastery Kit & SkillsVista Platform
Period: August–December 2024
Countries: Estonia, Croatia, Netherlands

. Purpose of the Focus Groups

The focus groups were conducted to:

• Identify priority soft skills for vulnerable adult learners
• Explore learning barriers and engagement challenges
• Assess preferences for visual learning methods
• Gather insights to inform both the Visual Methodology Mastery Kit and the SkillsVista Platform
• Ensure learner-centred and evidence-informed development

The process followed a participatory and inclusive approach aligned with adult learning principles.

2. Methodology

Each partner organisation conducted one national focus group consisting of:

• 5 adult educators/trainers working directly with vulnerable adults

Total participants across 3 countries:
15 educators

Data Collection Methods:

• Semi-structured group discussions
• Guided reflection exercises
• Visual mapping activities
• Short feedback questionnaires

Sessions lasted approximately 2–2.5 hours and were facilitated by trained project staff.

3. Country-Specific Findings

🇪🇪 Estonia

Key Identified Needs:

• Difficulty understanding abstract soft skills terminology
• Need for concrete, step-by-step guidance
• High anxiety in workplace communication
• Challenges with interpreting social norms

Priority Soft Skills Identified:

• Communication
• Social norms & appropriate behaviour
• Time management
• Emotional regulation

Preferred Learning Approaches:

• Clear visual sequences (step-by-step diagrams)
• Emotion scales and pictorial prompts
• Real-life scenario simulations
• Repetition through structured exercises

Outcome for Toolkit:

• Development of simplified visual maps
• Social behaviour flowcharts
• Visual communication models

🇭🇷 Croatia

Key Identified Needs:

• Low self-confidence in professional environments
• Difficulty with decision-making under pressure
• Need for structured problem-solving models
• Workplace adaptability challenges

Priority Soft Skills Identified:

• Decision-making
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability & resilience
• Leadership (basic level)

Preferred Learning Approaches:

• Scenario-based role-play
• Interactive digital challenges
• Gamified elements
• Visual comparison tools 

Outcome for Platform:

• Development of interactive quizzes
• Scenario-based digital simulations

🇳🇱 Netherlands

Key Identified Needs:

• Difficulty navigating workplace hierarchy
• Emotional intelligence gaps
• Cultural misunderstandings
• Team collaboration challenges

Priority Soft Skills Identified:

• Emotional intelligence
• Teamwork & collaboration
• Social manners
• Leadership in group contexts

Preferred Learning Approaches:

• Visual metaphors
• Group-based reflection exercises
• Dialogue simulations
• Peer learning discussions

Outcome for Toolkit & Platform:

• Emotion mapping visuals
• Teamwork diagrams
• Public vs. private behaviour scenarios

4. Cross-Country Comparative Analysis

Across all three countries, several consistent themes emerged:

Abstract Concepts Are Difficult

Participants across countries struggled with purely theoretical explanations of soft skills.

Visual Structure Enhances Confidence

Learners expressed feeling “less afraid” when concepts were visually broken down.

Scenario-Based Learning Is Highly Effective

Both educators and learners preferred realistic, contextual situations rather than lecture-style teaching.

Emotional Intelligence Requires Structured Guidance

Emotion identification and regulation were common challenges across all countries.

5. Key Decisions Derived from Focus Groups

Based on findings, the partnership agreed to structure the Toolkit into 10 modules:

• Communication
• Social Manners
• Social Norms & Inappropriate Behaviour
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Decision-Making
• Problem-Solving
• Adaptability & Resilience
• Time Management
• Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence

Additionally:

• Visual explanations would be prioritised over text-heavy descriptions
• Activity suggestions would accompany each module
• The digital platform would complement the toolkit through scenario-based simulations
• Content would be translated into national languages to ensure accessibility