Rilevazione e valutazione delle competenze sociali e comunicative (social soft skills) in docenti di scuola secondaria superiore / Detection and evaluation of social and communication skills (social soft skills) in high secondary school teachers

Today we are witnessing a gradual institutional legitimization of a mission of the education and training system aimed to developing transversal skills. Here we present the results of an empirical survey for evaluate some social competences recognized in the international literature as fundamental for the teaching profession: Sociability, Ability to make contacts, Sensitivity, Team orientation, Assertiveness. They were detected through the administration – to 80 teachers of upper secondary schools of different disciplines - of the scale on Social Competences of BIP Questionnaire (Business-focused Inventory of Personality, by Hossiep & Paschen, 2003), adapted to the Italian population by Fossati and Ciancaleoni (2013). The Sociability score is below the average of the Italian population: so, the professors examined should improve the relational ability and reduce conflict situations. With regard to the other factors, scores are around the average, confirming that soft skills of this teachers, have not been really developed and specific teacher training programs are needed. There are no significant differences with respect to age, while, as far as gender is concerned, women are more sensitive, capable of establishing contacts and team-oriented. Assertiveness levels are common for both sexes. Furthermore, the “multi-dimensional” character of transversal social competences is highlighted.