Abstract:

Introduction:
There are some parallels between university education and postgraduate training. During both periods the students gradually develop a more or less wide range of general skills, and transverse to the topics, contents and learning methodologies. The main differences between the two training processes are the duration and the starting point on which the teaching and learning processes are developed. Postgraduate studies are shorter, concentrated and focused on specific practical contents which link to more specific skills profiles and oriented to the labor needs of the students. Likewise it is also common for postgraduate students are working and, therefore, the applicability of learning activity is immediate, reinforcing the learning.

Objectives:
This paper defines two objectives. In order to determine the progressive acquisition of competencies, this paper develops a methodology of analysis and evaluation and a tool adapted to consider the behaviors that reflect skills of postgraduate student. With the results of these behaviors, the differences between profiles of freshmen MBA and graduates MBA were analyzed.

Methodology:
For this purpose, a questionnaire of 13 general skills, based on 83 observed, quantifiable and scalable behaviors, has been designed and validated. This questionnaire was completed by 83 students of different academic years of the Master Business Administration (MBA) from Universidad Centroamericana (Nicaragua, Central America).

Results:
The analysis of selected general skills (learning orientation, quality orientation, teamwork, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, decisions making, use of ICT, verbal communication, written communication, interpersonal communication, management of foreign language, diversity and multiculturalism and ethical sense) of the sample shows significant differences between freshmen MBA and students graduates.

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

Keywords:

General skills development, learning process, postgraduate university education, MBA studies.