DEVELOPING GENERIC SKILLS AT THE HIGHER EDUCATION

Paula Crespí
Prof. Dr., Francisco de Vitoria University, Spain, p.crespi.prof@ufv.es

Abstract

Training generic skills is a current, relevant and controversial issue. Today continue the debate about understanding the competence or skill concept and its relevance into the educational and business reality.
The training by competences in the university field arises in Spain with the constitution of the European Higher Education Area, and specifically with the “Bologna Declaration” in 1999.

In the professional field, the competence movement arises around 1973 with David McClellan who identified that to be successful we need something more than intelligence and knowledges.
In this research work we propose the need to train university students in personal competences and skills for their personal, academic and professional excellence and success.

Understanding that competences can be developed and taking this hypothesis to the university field, we intend to answer the question: Can a training program within the university curriculum cause a development of these competences?

The general objective of this study try to analyze the effectiveness and need of a specific university training on generic skills for their development. Competencies that help them to move towards personal, academic and professional excellence and success in their lives.

Keywords: Generic skills, Competences, Training, European Higher Education.