Fostering social and personal competencies in higher education
The ETH Competence Framework case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.16906/lt-eth.v4i1.223Abstract
We describe the implementation of a competence framework comprising social and personal competencies and traditional subject- and method-specific competencies at ETH Zurich. We use mixed data to document the university's need for the framework. We find the incorporation of different perspectives about competencies pivotal for developing the framework, while joint information-sharing and competence-building enable the implementation of the framework within the university's services and educational offers. Our paper contributes to the debate in higher education on why and how universities change to prepare future-ready graduates. First, it elucidates the competencies becoming increasingly crucial for future graduates and how to conceptualise them. Second, it leverages examples showing how to promote a holistic set of competencies within the university, including the student support service, among more traditional implementation levels like degree programmes or courses.
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