Anna TOULOUMAKOS[back]

B.A, Philosophy, Education and Psychology, University of Athens, Greece (2000)

M.A, Psychological Measurement and Evaluation, New York University, NY, US (2002)

M.Sc, Counselling and Career Guidance, Universtiy of Athens, Greece (2005)

The origins of my research interest stem from the paradox of over education and skills deficiencies coexisting in UK labour market. It seems that the complaint coming from employers about skills gaps and shortages (skills deficiencies) in the UK labour market is interpreted by policy makers to the need for the enhancement of a qualificiations based education system. Therefore, my intention is to shed light to the relationship between skills and qualifications. In doing so, the focus of my research is with understanding the nature and characterising the soft skills (such as communication, teamwork and so forth) through observations of human resource practices (assessment centres, training courses, employee relations). Research to date indicates that a view of communication as a set of skills is very restrictive: communication requires the enactment of some skills such as language, non verbal behaviours, relational agency in order to take place but it requires far more than a set of skills. It also is the prerequisite for leadership, influencing, managing (and other traditionally characterised soft skills). This, introduces the need to an alternative view of skills which in turn suggests that a qualifications based system as a means for skills development is condemned to failure.

Constable, S., Touloumakos, A.K. (2009) Satisfying Employer Demands for Skills. The Work Foundation, London.(http://www.theworkfoundation.com/assets/docs/publications/219_emp_skills030409.pdf)

Touloumakos, A.K. (2009) Understanding the nature of soft skills: A case study of HR Managers. AERA, San Diego: CA.

Touloumakos, A.K. (2009) A communication break down: Communication, skills for it and links to soft skills. Student Conference, Department of Education, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.

Touloumakos, A.K. (2008) Researching skills and the skill of negotiating access. Student Conference, Department of Education, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.

Touloumakos, A.K., Jordan, T., & Sidiropoulou-Dimakakou, D.(2006)  Holland’s Self-Directed Search: Drawing Comparisons between Greek and US Samples.  Paper presented at the 26th International Congress of Applied Psychology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

Touloumakos, A.K. (2005) Self-Directed Search: Standardisation Pilot in Greece. Unpublished MSc Thesis. University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Touloumakos, A. K. (2002) Openess to experience. Unpublished MA thesis. New York University, New York, US.