Abstract:

This research work analyses and reviews some important gaps which have been observed in the present engineering students’ curricula, particularly in the development of generic competences and specifically in the profile of socio-emotional ones.

The research work focuses on two key aspects:
- To determine and establish the profile of competences that prospective graduates in engineering should acquire, including both specific and generic and within the generic ones, socio-emotional competences.
- To propose a methodology to work and evaluate generic competences (tutoring, active learning methodologies, etc.).

Two field studies were carried out. The first study gave as a result a wide range of necessary generic competences needed by engineers to perform their duties in the professional field and the second field study focused, more specifically on socio-emotional competences.

With the obtained results, some suggestions were presented in order to develop engineering students’ educational skills. The aim was to serve as a reference to improve the educational skills offered by Spanish Universities.

The participants were members of the Alumni Association of the Mining and Industrial Engineering School in Almadén, members of the Technical Engineer Association, companies linked to the Engineering School and teachers. It was an intentional non probalistic sampling.

We intend to favour and to encourage debates and a deep reflection on a matter we consider important in Higher Education and which will be a key factor in the following years.

All groups highlighted the importance of generic competences in the professional profile of engineers.

Keywords:

Educational Innovation, European Higher Education Area, Learning Outcomes, Generic Competences, Engineering.