Abstract:

During the period of university education, students gradually develop a set of more or less broad general competencies that are transverse to the matters set, content and learning methodologies used.

This study analyses the influence of debate methodology on the progressive acquisition of skills during the university formation. A questionnaire of 13 general competences based on 89 observed, quantifiable and graduates behaviors has been elaborated and validated. This questionnaire has been applied to 273 students of different academic years of the Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, some of them had participated in debating activities.

Results show evidence of significant differences in the students competence profiles of several academic years (the five competences which have higher differentiated developments are use of ICT, verbal communication, written communication, interpersonal communication and innovation) as well as between those who have taken part in debating activities and those who have not. This results confirm the hypothesis of differentiated competence and progressive development during the period of university formation.

Keywords:

General competences development, learning process, debate methodology, business administration.