Development of Generic Competences in Latin American University Students. Systematic Review

Abstract

competencies allow efficient and ethical individual actions, oriented to the exercise of citizenship, social responsibility and environmental commitment. For this reason , the development of generic skills in university students is important . This research wsystematizes the evidence about the strategies, methods and techniques used to develop generic competencies. in university students in Latin America from 2007 to 2022 . The systematic review was carried out following the methodology proposed in the Cochrane Collaboration and the Declaration based on a sample of 28 scientific articles on generic competences developed in Latin American universities, selected from three international databases: Scopus, Scielo and ScienceDirect . ; through criteria of relevance and sufficiency. The search was carried out between July 2021 and July 2022. It involved qualitative, quantitative and mixed research carried out in five countries: Chile, Colombia and Mexico were the countries with the most development of generic skills, unlike Peru and Ecuador. . The university careers that show the most interest in the development of these competencies are Medical Sciences, followed by Engineering, Social Sciences and Education. Strategies of an experiential nature are privileged , such as clinical and high-fidelity simulation, service-learning methodology, problem-based and project-based learning. The generic skills developed with the various strategies include: autonomous work, learning to learn, the ability to learn and update oneself permanently, teamwork, being critical and self-critical, oral and written communication, social responsibility, and intellectual curiosity. Competence-based training is necessary to promote the autonomous and responsible participation of students in their professional and personal growth, essential to contribute to human and sustainable development in Latin America and the world.