Propuesta metodológica para la determinación y el aprendizaje de las competencias genéricas clave del/la ingeniero/a tic y percepción diferencial del mercado entre el grado y el postgrado o máster

Résumé

While the European Union is ongoing towards a production system based on the knowledge economy, and in a historical moment when universities are facing the challenges associated with the achievement of the postulates of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), it is necessary to rethink the competitive patterns established until now. It seems appropriate to clarify the expectations in relation to some of the main higher education needs of the information and communication technology (ICT) engineers in Spain, to reflect and evaluate the performance of the university and to consider how to develop curricula for this purpose. Thus, the thesis presents different objectives, which have divided the research into three phases. First, an in-depth study on the state of the art of both the specific literature on the concept of generic competences or transversal skills was conducted, specifying for the ICT sector and engineering studies. Yet, stress has also been put on the analysis of the general and specific literature on learning methods, focusing on the so-called active methodologies and contextualizing in the EHEA. Given the broad range of skills and general know-how required by the Spanish ICT sector (mainly focusing on graduates in computer and telecommunications engineering), a selection limited to 20 ICT skills has been ensured, following a rigorous procedure. In the second phase, and from a comprehensive statistical study using a representative sample that comprises more than 60% of all employees working in the Spanish ICT sector, it has been possible to shed some light on the graduate profile that responds to the market demands. The required pattern is as follows: the graduated is able to find the information he/she needs, has an analytical thinking, is able to planning, is team working and flexible, as well. The research conducted also reveals the most valued skills applying for both graduate and master level, being in both cases: teamwork, commitment to learning, problem solving and customer oriented. The field study has reflected Spanish university fulfills their role of training competences, attending to the needs and expectations of the sector, although highlighting certain gaps. This is a key element for reflection, which provides training proposing improvements for further investigations. Also research results have suggested a gap between generic skills demanded by the sector in Spain and those recommended by the scientific literature, in terms of business strategy and the ways of maintaining competitive advantage in the ICT sector. Finally, in the third stage analysis, and thanks to the use of an expert panel, it has been developed the most efficient way to ensure the acquisition of the 10 generic hey skills for graduates in ICT engineering. This original proposal has emphasized the use of student centered learning techniques, also known as active learning methodologies. The findings suggest that the use of project based learning (PBL) as well as the learning contract technique, are the teaching methods that best help in the acquisition of the skills required by the ICT sector. We must emphasize the relevance of this research, which assumes the methodological change, where the student becomes the central element of the new educational paradigm promoted by the European educational integration.