AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF PERCEPTIONS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AMONG A SAMPLE OF STUDENTS IN THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM

Abstract

Emotional intelligence, known as the set of skills that determine effectiveness in processing diverse emotional information (Mayer & Cobb 2000), is essential for subjective well-being (OECD, 2021) and for supporting and performing formal and informal tasks, especially in caregiving jobs. Research shows that dedicated workshops and courses within university pathways effectively develop these skills in students, thereby preparing them for their future professions (Kuk, et al. 2021; Khurshid, M et al. 2018). This paper aims to show the first results of a survey conducted on a sample of students of the Education and Training Science degree program at Sapienza University of Rome. The purpose is to measure levels of self-perceived Emotional Intelligence along with variables related to university studies such as years of coursework and internship experiences. Perceived training needs of students to develop these skills are also explored.