The relevance of transversal competences in vocational education and training: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Vocational Education and Training (VET) programmes have included the acquisition of transversal competences in their curricula as a tool to increase employability. The number of researches has exponentially grown in the last years, emphasizing its relevance and the multiple approaches and factors involved in the learning process. The present bibliometric study aims to provide an overview of the scientific research carried out during the last 10 years and to shed some light on several relevant topics in this field. The results indicate the need to improve students’ transversal competences in order to meet the demands of the labour market, the importance of the collaboration of all the actors involved in the process (policy makers, industry and educators) and from a pedagogical point of view, the necessity of introducing new teaching approaches to implement and assess the acquisition of transversal competences. However, and despite the surge of interest in the study of transversal competences in the last decade, further empirical research is needed, especially at Vocational Education and Training level, to understand how transversal competences develop and what kind of initiatives have an impact of their acquisition.

Industrial needs v. Engineering education curricula related to maintenance, production and quality in industry 4.0: A gap analysis case study in Tunisia and Morocco

“…Finally, some scholars have investigated the requirements for education and qualifications in Industry 4.0 (Benešová and Tupa, 2017). Despite these efforts, it is still emphasized that educational institutions focus extensively on interpersonal and transversal skills (Calero López and Rodríguez-López, 2020). Chaka (2020) stresses that skills and competencies attributed to Industry 4.0 are often generic soft skills, such as communication, creativity and problem solving.…”

The Impact of Field-Based Practical Training on Job Performance in Tanzania: Perspectives From Students and Work Supervisors

“…The questionnaire was structured as follows: part one: Demographic information, part two: Assessment of the impact of filed-based practical training on job performance using seven close-ended questions assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 means not at all, 2 to a small extent, 3 moderate, 4 to a great extent, and 5 completely true. The items in the main part of the questionnaire were based on previously established theoretical measures of the impact of field internship programs (Anjum, 2020;Baartman & Ruijs, 2011;Calero Lo´pez & Rodrı´guez-Lo´pez, 2020;Changalima et al, 2022;Fjellstro¨m, 2014). A key informant interview (KII) guide was used to gather the views of work supervisors on the same.…”

“…Research on this matter varies. For example, Calero López and Rodríguez-López’s (2020) bibliometric analysis shows the following strands of research. First, there is the assessment and achievement of transversal competencies by students, which focuses on students’ reports of their own competency levels.…”

Engineering Skills: Systematic Review in the Field of Professional Ethics

“…The framework highlights the academic importance that Soft Skills have been receiving, as it contributes to employability and differentiation in the market (Calero López & Rodríguez-López, 2020;Weston, 2020). Among the social skills (Soft Skills) most cited by literature, the following stands out: Communication (oral and written), professionalism and teamwork.…”