International Frameworks of Social and Emotional Skills in Times of Educational Uncertainty: Implications for Educational Reform in Ukraine
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The paper highlights the issue of developing social and emotional skills (SES) in the modern educational practice. It compares several key international frameworks of social and emotional skills, in particular the SEE Learning framework, LifeComp, CASEL, OECD, and the competencies of the New Ukrainian School (NUS). Special attention is paid to the importance of integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) into the educational systems of different countries, including Ukraine, which faces numerous challenges, including the consequences of war. The main part of the paper focuses on the EASEL Lab meta-framework developed at Harvard University. This meta-framework serves as an innovative tool for organizing and analyzing various social and emotional (SE) skills frameworks, enabling a deeper understanding of their interconnections and highlighting both shared and distinctive features. Its development was grounded in an in-depth analysis of key components across different frameworks, including skills, traits, competencies, and attributes. For comparative purposes within this study, the SEE Learning, LifeComp, CASEL, OECD, and NUS frameworks were selected due to their widespread recognition in the professional community and their ability to capture a broad range of social and emotional (SE) skills. The analysis revealed that each framework demonstrates distinctive features and strengths. The SEE Learning framework, in particular, encompasses a wide spectrum of skills, including ethical dimensions that are often underrepresented in other frameworks. The comparison revealed that the SEE Learning framework encompasses all the skills and components identified in the CASEL framework, while also introducing additional elements such as systems thinking and ethical principles. In comparison with the OECD framework, SEE Learning further incorporates skills not explicitly emphasized in OECD, particularly self-acceptance and emotional regulation. These findings highlight the comprehensive and integrative scope of the SEE Learning framework, which is designed to support holistic individual development. The alignment of international frameworks with the Ukrainian educational context is a crucial factor in the successful integration of SEL into educational practice. The SEE Learning framework, which is aligned with global standards, can be effectively incorporated into Ukraine’s education system to enhance educational quality and foster holistic individual development. Comparison with international frameworks enables the identification of areas for improvement and the adoption of best practices to support students’ sustained and well-rounded development.
Source: Social work and social education
Language: English
Topic: Social Skills and Education
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7143300564