Projects / Programmes
»RAZKORAK« Longitudinal study in competence potential of university graduates and a gap between graduates' competences and labour market requirements in technology, education and health
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.01.00 |
Social sciences |
Educational studies |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S270 |
Social sciences |
Pedagogy and didactics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.03 |
Social Sciences |
Educational sciences |
higher education, competencies, employability, competence needs, construction, geodesy, electrica engineering, education, health, psychology
Researchers (20)
Organisations (6)
Abstract
The competence concept, it’s modelling, needs assessment and evaluation is challenging research in education as also transdisciplinary research. Competences in contemporary society can no longer be described as fixed set of skills; they represent a dynamic combination of abilities, skills and knowledge. Competences are context dependent and reflect person’s potential realised in different contexts. It is being developed in the processes of learning, education, training and work based activities. Witt in Lehmann identify in the internal dimension which is reflecting the individual characteristics and external dimension which is reflecting demands of working processes (2001). Boyantzis defines competences as individual abilities which reflect motives, values, self-image, social roles, skills and knowledge which individual is applying and are connected with the results in the work place (1982, 2008). Competences as actualised potentials which individual apply in a concrete situation. Klieme in Leutner define competences and as context-specific cognitive dispositions that are acquired and needed to successfuly cope with certain situations or tasks in specific domains (Klieme in Leutner 2006). In the education the demands for accountability shift the focus on the competency based curriculum (Wise, 1979; Slavin, 2002). Mclelland as alternative to measurement of general cognitive abilities identifies testing of competency with the criterion sampling with the testing of authentic tasks from real life work based environments (1973). Competencies in bologna competency based study programmes provide a framework for curriculum design. Longitudinal survey within old and bologna programs will provide longitudinal assessment data during study, after graduation in employment to identify how the competences have been developed, how students perceive professional competences, how learning environment influence students approaches to learning and competence development, how competences are actualised when graduates enter labour market and get employed. Assessment of competences are also an important focus of this study. Within the proposed research will measurement of small segment of generic competences take place. The level of competency acquired will be in the focus of measurement. In this way the topic of this research will also be a psychometric measurement of competencies. The instruments will be designed and developed also as an example how to design competency assessment instruments and as a case to be applied within different disciplines and subject specific competencies. Purpose: (1) The development of instruments for needs assessment and evaluation of competences of graduates. (2) State of the art and analysis of the competences divide among competence needs (in work environments, university and students themselves) and actualised competences (of graduates in the selected fields of technology, education, psychology and health). Objective: (1) Instruments for competence potential assessment and the analyse of divide among needs and realised competences; Instruments will support the competence management in different areas. (2) Longitudinal analyses competence potential in technology in the field of civil engineering, geodesy and electrical engineering, in education, psychology and in health. Participants will be student, graduates and employers. The analysis will cover state of the art and divide/disparity between stakeholders. In the study, different methodological approaches will be combined – a survey study (quantitative approach) will be combined with selected qualitative research methods. A combined approach is necessary to obtain a holistic view about the research object. Quantitative data will allow for generalizability, whereas qualitative data will bring a deeper and informationally richer insight, and possibly provide some findings that could not be foreseen at the beginning of the study.
Significance for science
The study, which links several disciplines in the study skills of students and graduates and a comparison of it with the needs of the labor market in Slovenia has developed instruments and conducted a longitudinal empirical study. The research findings enable the universities to obtain instant feedback on the competencies of graduates. Contribution of research links universities with industry and non-economic in establishing processes of regular annual activities in the career centers of universities. Developed activities and processes could increase flexibility and responsiveness of universities in curriculum planning and implementation of study processes to market needs and reduce the gap in this area. We anticipate that this will on a long term result in an impact on the necessary activities of universities to reduce risks to the educated graduates who have not adequately developed skills that the labor market needs. Studies in the field of higher education received in recent years increased attention of researchers, but in Slovenia, major research activities were conducted only at specific changes, as such Bologna process. The purpose of this research is to establish a culture of sustained monitoring and research of study processes in relation to the needs of users, which in turn would affect the micro-teaching situation. The survey findings tackle the gap between labor market needs and competencies held by graduates entering the labor market. Responsibility of universities in the results (Accountability) is also reflected in efforts on analysis of the concept of professional competence of students and graduates, which should become an integral part of an annual assessment and quality assurance in cooperation with users and non-commercial sector in the economy. The research instruments developed facilitate the participation of universities in the field of competence assessment. Instruments have been developed for all areas addressed in the context of research. The results of this study stimulate new perspectives on competencies and the contexts and processes that accompany competence development and their application in work environments. It includes a review of definitions and conceptions of competence, which is in the current state of scientific knowledge, reflecting on the notions of discipline related competencies in the social sciences, engineering, psychology and health. The results of this study are based on competency framework connecting internal (characteristics of the individual) and external characteristics of competences (needs work processes) (Witt and Lehmann, 2001), which allow a link between the university, when preparing individuals for entering into the labor market and needs of the labor market.
Significance for the country
Users in the economy and non-commercial sector, industry associations and chambers of commerce and employment show interest in-depth study of competencies and the gap between supply and demand. The findings are used in the processes of human resource development and business processes. Developed instruments have been introduced in the regular annual processes of involved universities. Cooperation of the University of stakeholders, which was established during the Bologna reform is reasonable to maintain. The university is in the development of curriculum autonomous and bear social responsibilities. To successfully fulfil its mission, must have developed cooperation with all stakeholders. The proposed research provides concrete instruments for cooperation. The indirect significance of the research is primarily in the potential impact that the study has in long term on the dialogue between industry, non-economic sector, employment services, universities and other stakeholders in decision making. The findings have been implemented for policy makers and designers of higher education courses and curricula in the re accreditation process of study programes. The indirect contribution of the research is to reduce the gap between market needs and competencies of graduates, which will affect the global socio-economic processes. The originality of design research is to link researchers from different scientific disciplines that have participated in the development of scientific instruments for the analysis of competencies and reflect both the universality and specificity. It will contribute to defining the specific characteristics of the processes associated with the competencies specific to the disciplinary areas and the common characteristics associated with competencies in all areas. Developed instruments for the analysis of potential competence enable the advanced management competencies within the professional fields and allow a comprehensive review of attitudes and perceptions within an established competence and processes that accompany the development of competencies.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2011,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
