Students’ experiences of the development of generic competences in the Finnish higher education context – the role of the teaching-learning environment and approaches to learning

ABSTRACT

To face the challenges demanded by a changing and uncertain world, it is essential for students to develop generic competences during their studies. However, recent research shows worrying results concerning the development of generic competences among higher education students. This quantitative study explores students’ experiences of the development of generic competences and the connections to the experiences of the teaching-learning environment at a university of applied sciences. Further, the significance of the students’ approaches to learning is examined. Generic competences were examined on two dimensions: (1) constructing and applying knowledge and (2) collaboration and communication. Through a path analysis (N = 191), the study showed that students’ experiences of the interest and relevance of the studies and working-life orientation were directly connected to the development of competence in constructing and applying knowledge. The students’ experiences of peer support were directly connected to the development of competences in collaboration and communication. Some differences were detected in how students who adopted different approaches to learning reported the relations between their experience of the teaching-learning environment and generic competences. The study has implications for the development of teaching-learning environments where pedagogical practices should be in accordance with the expected development of generic competences.

KEYWORDS:

• Generic competences
• teaching-learning environment
• approaches to learning
• path analysis
• student experiences

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Siru Myllykoski-Laine

Siru Myllykoski-Laine is a researcher at Häme University of Applied Sciences and a PhD student in education at the University of Turku. Her research focuses on teaching and learning in higher education; she is interested in the pedagogical culture of higher education and the development of generic competences.

Juulia Lahdenperä

Juulia Lahdenperä is a researcher at Häme University of Applied Sciences where she utilises her mathematics background to conduct mostly quantitative research on higher education teaching and learning. She is also a PhD student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Helsinki, where she conducts mixed-methods research on university mathematics learning environments.

Leena Nikander

Leena Nikander is a principal lecturer at Häme University of Applied Sciences. In recent years she has focused on higher education development projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, focusing especially on the co-operation between education and the world of work and supporting teachers to enhance their competencies in the field.

Liisa Postareff

Liisa Postareff is a senior research scientist at Häme University of Applied Sciences. In addition, she is an Adjunct Professor (title of Docent) of university pedagogy at the University of Helsinki. Her research focuses broadly on learning and teaching in higher education, especially on learning and teaching processes, academic emotions, and psychological wellbeing.