Abstract:

Introduction:
During the period of higher education, university students gradually develop a more or less wide range of general skills which are transverse to subjects, contents and learning methodologies. However, the number of studies analyzing the effect of university education on the development of general skills profile in students and graduates has been small. The main difficulty in conducting these types of studies lies in the multiplicity of factors that influence the development of skills and abilities and shaping the character of young people during their formative academic process.

Objectives:
This paper defines two complementary objectives. On the one hand, in order to determine how the progressive acquisition of competencies takes place, this paper develops a methodology of analysis and evaluation and a tool adapted to consider the behaviors that reflect skills of university student. On the other hand, with the results of these behaviors differences between students will be analyzed throughout their training and university studies.

Methodology:
For this purpose, a questionnaire of 16 general skills, based on 137 observed, quantifiable and scalable behaviors, has been designed and validated. This questionnaire was completed by 171 students of different academic years of the Bachelor Degree in Business Administration (BBA) from Universidad Centroamericana “José Simeón Cañas” (El Salvador, Central America).

Results:
The general skills analyzed are: analytical thinking, practical thinking, decision making, learning orientation, planning, use of ICT, communication in foreign languages, interpersonal communication, teamwork, conflict management and negotiation, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, project management, achievement orientation, leadership, and ethical sense. The analysis of the completed questionnaires shows significant differences in students´ skills profiles of several academic years throughout the period of university education.

Conclusions:
This study confirms the hypothesis of a differentiated and progressive development of skills through the graduate university training.

Keywords:

General skills development, learning process, university education, business administration studies.