Virtask

17/07/2026

VET students were candid about something that doesn't always make it into a curriculum review: fear. Not fear of the technical work, but of the human part of it - the first real conversation with a colleague, a client, or a manager. They spoke openly about wanting more live practice rather than more theory, about not knowing how to respond to passive-aggressive tone from a teammate, and, encouragingly, about being genuinely curious to try scenario-based training in VR rather than another slide deck.
ICT workers, on the other hand, were living the consequences of the gap rather than anticipating it. Their conversation circled around bridging the intergenerational gap with newer colleagues, managing client expectations against real deadlines, navigating trust in remote and hybrid teams, and, perhaps the most quietly important theme of the day, finding the right balance between digital tools and genuinely human interaction at work.
Why this comparison matters
It would have been easy to run these two workshops separately and simply add the results together. Instead, VIRTASK deliberately designed them to run in parallel, using the same structure, the same 30-skills instrument, and the same facilitation approach for both groups.
The result is a picture that's more useful than either group's data on its own. Students tell us where the anxiety and the readiness gap begin. Workers tell us what that gap looks like once it's had years to compound in a real workplace. Put together, they don't just confirm that soft skills matter - they show when in a career each skill starts to matter most, and what kind of support would have helped along the way.
What happens next
These Irish findings now feed into Activity A3, where they'll be compared against results from partner countries across the VIRTASK consortium, and into Activity A4, where the whole project's real purpose comes into focus: designing training modules and VR scenarios that actually reflect what people on the ground told us they NEED.
If the workshops proved anything, it's that when you give people, students and professionals alike, a genuinely safe space to talk about where they feel unprepared, they don't hold back. That honesty is exactly what this project is built on.

17/07/2026

Communication topped the list for both groups, but not in the abstract, textbook sense. Workers talked about it as the thing that saves a project when a deadline moves. Students talked about it as the thing they're most afraid of getting wrong in their first week on the job. Teamwork, empathy, confidence and conflict resolution followed close behind - skills that sound simple on paper and turn out to be anything but, the moment real people and real pressure are involved.
Adaptability rounded out the list. Given how much of a modern ICT-related role is shaped by shifting requirements, new tools and last-minute changes, it's little surprise that both a 19-year-old student and a 15-year veteran of the workplace named it as essential.
Where the two groups actually differed
This is where it gets genuinely interesting, because the shape of the gap looks different depending on which side of the career you're standing on.

17/07/2026

17/07/2026

Soft skills sunt cheia succesului într-o piață a muncii aflată în continuă schimbare.

Competențele tehnice sunt importante, dar abilitățile precum comunicarea, colaborarea, gândirea critică, leadershipul și managementul timpului sunt cele care fac diferența într-o echipă și într-o carieră de succes.

Prin proiectul VIRTASK , susținem dezvoltarea competențelor transversale necesare pentru a face față provocărilor actuale și viitoare ale pieței muncii.

💡 În cadrul proiectului vei descoperi resurse, instrumente și bune practici pentru dezvoltarea competențelor esențiale în mediul profesional modern.

🌍 Descoperă mai multe despre proiect:
https://virtaskproject.eu/

06/07/2026

What did we learn about the soft skills gap from the Vilnius workshop? 📊🇱🇹
While junior ICT talents excel at learning new tech, a major gap exists in self-management and human connection. Data shows the biggest struggles are decision-making under uncertainty, independent work organization, and setting priorities.
The biggest challenge? Communicating with non-technical users 🗣️❌. Many students admit they only realize during internships that they don't know how to handle an irritated client or read the room.
The curriculum teaches them how to learn, but not how to prioritize or handle workplace pressure. That’s why we are building immersive VR training scenarios to simulate these exact high-pressure moments before day one on the job! ⚡🎮

06/07/2026

Student Perspectives on the Future of Work. Ireland
As part of the Erasmus+ VIRTASK project, we recently hosted an online focus group bringing together students from a range of study areas to explore the skills needed for success in an increasingly digital workplace.
The discussion highlighted an important message: technical knowledge alone is no longer enough. Students recognised that employers are increasingly looking for a combination of digital competence and strong interpersonal skills.
Some of the key insights shared during the session included:
Communication remains one of the biggest challenges when transitioning from education into employment, particularly in professional and client-facing situations.
Teamwork and collaboration are becoming more complex as remote and hybrid working environments become the norm.
Problem-solving and critical thinking are seen as essential skills, especially in a world where AI can provide instant answers but cannot replace human judgement.
Many students identified confidence and public speaking as areas where they would like additional support and practical training.
Adaptability and willingness to learn are increasingly important as technologies, tools and workplace expectations continue to evolve.
Students are already making extensive use of AI and digital tools in their studies, but many expressed a desire for more guidance on using these technologies effectively and responsibly in professional settings.
These valuable insights will contribute directly to the development of immersive VR-based learning scenarios within the VIRTASK project, helping future professionals build the soft skills needed to thrive in modern workplaces.

18/06/2026

Meet the VIRTASK coordinator – Vilnius Gediminas technical university (VILNIUS TECH). ����
�� VILNIUS TECH brings together education, innovation, and immersive technologies to explore
the future of soft skills training.
Together with “LinkMenų fabrikas” - VILNIUS TECH creativity and innovation centre - we work
at the intersection of technology, prototyping, virtual production, digital content creation, and
immersive experiences.
Within VIRTASK, we focus on how VR and immersive learning environments can help learners
strengthen essential soft skills for modern workplaces.
Together, we believe the future of education is not only digital - it’s interactive, collaborative, and
human-centred. ��

18/06/2026

What did we learn from the Lithuanian sector visits in VIRTASK? ���� Digital workplaces need
more than technical skills. ��
During the VIRTASK sector visits, employers across Education, Healthcare, Tourism, Finance, and
ICT sectors highlighted some of the biggest challenges in modern workplaces:
�� Clear communication in digital environments,
�� Collaboration under pressure,
⚡ Adaptability in fast-changing situations,
�� Critical thinking & problem-solving,
�� Emotional awareness and conflict prevention.
One thing became very clear: technical knowledge alone is no longer enough.
Today’s workplaces increasingly value people who can communicate, collaborate, and adapt
confidently in complex digital environments. ��