Open AccessGraduates and competences: analyzing the gap between university and enterprise
Author(s) -
Carme Riera Prunera,
Manuela Alcañiz,
Helena Chuliá,
Maria Pujol Jover
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
revista d'innovació docent universitària/revista d'innovació docent universitària
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2014-1319
pISSN - 2013-2298
DOI - 10.1344/ridu2022.14.1
Subject(s) - pillar , aside , vocational education , productivity , higher education , order (exchange) , knowledge society , process (computing) , bologna process , point (geometry) , sociology , political science , business , public relations , management , pedagogy , economics , engineering , economic growth , computer science , art , geometry , literature , mathematics , structural engineering , finance , law , operating system
As a result of the process of convergence relative to higher education initiated in Bologna in 1999, the role of the University in the society is undergoing a profound transformation. The traditional paradigm, according to which the University is the point of departure for constructing knowledge at the highest level, is now under consideration in order to accommodate more vocational training studies, which include the acquisition of competencies as a central pillar. Nevertheless, two of the main actors that play a role in the process, academics and entrepreneurs, have different points of view with respect to the skills a graduate entering the labor market should have. Based on the results from a survey conducted at the University of Barcelona, we will show how firms turn in favor of competencies related to medium-short term productivity, whereas the university balks at setting aside knowledge with more scientific nature. This scenario reinforces the need of a deeper dialogue between University and firms, pointing out the benefits that some adjustments in college training may end up providing the society.