A1 Journal article (refereed)
Agency, expertise and working life skills : Students’ conceptions of the generic competences required in the world of work (2021)

Brauer, S., Ratinen, I., Kumpulainen, K., Kyrö-Ämmälä, O., Nikander, L., & Väänänen, I. (2021). Agency, expertise and working life skills : Students’ conceptions of the generic competences required in the world of work. European Journal of Education Studies, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v8i5.3710

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Brauer, Sanna; Ratinen, Ilkka; Kumpulainen, Kaisu; Kyrö-Ämmälä, Outi; Nikander, Leena; Väänänen, Ilkka

Journal or series: European Journal of Education Studies

eISSN: 2501-1111

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 28/04/2021

Volume: 8

Issue number: 5

Publisher: Open Access Publishing Group

Publication country: Romania

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v8i5.3710

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/75736

Abstract

Fundamental changes in working life highlight the demands on the co-operation between the educational sector and working life, that should contribute to students’ employability. In addition to discipline-specific expertise, the development of working life skills has received increasing attention when it comes to employment. Drawing on data from Finnish universities of applied sciences (n=5) and universities (n=3), this paper examines how students (n=380) value the generic competences needed in in the world of work. The study is based on European reforms of labour markets and educational structures. This paper adds to current discourses around employability by highlighting differences between students of universities and universities of applied sciences. The implications of this research suggest paying attention to the concepts of agency, expertise and working life skills as outlined in the integrative pedagogy model, as well as emphasising the requirement for soft skills and generic competences needed in working life.

Keywords: studies in an institution of higher education; students; working life; transferable skills; competence; human agency; expertise

Free keywords: competence-based orientation; employment; generic competence; working life skill; higher education

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1