Higher education institutions increasingly demand that graduates develop complex competencies that transcend disciplinary boundaries and respond to the needs of a rapidly changing society. However, a persistent challenge remains: how to define, and ultimately measure, competencies such as interdisciplinarity, innovation, and social responsibility in ways that are both theoretically grounded and practically applicable. This study presents a systematic review aimed at operationalizing these three generic competencies within the higher education context. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across major academic databases, resulting in a final selection of peer-reviewed studies addressing the conceptualization and measurement of these competencies. The analysis identified the core dimensions and indicators associated with each competency, as well as a set of shared transversal skills including problem-solving, communication, creativity, and decision-making. Moreover, 46.6% of the identified attributes were shared by at least two competencies, revealing a significant degree of conceptual overlap with important implications for assessment design. Beyond measurement, the findings offer concrete pedagogical and institutional guidelines for fostering interdisciplinarity, innovation, and social responsibility in higher education institutions, supporting curriculum design, teaching practices, and institutional policy. These results provide a systematic and evidence-based foundation for the development of more coherent and comprehensive approaches to competency-based education.

Authors:
Nataly Cisternas San Martín, University of Concepción, Chile
Daniela Silva Valeria, University of Concepción, Chile
Esteban Guzmán Muñoz, University of Concepción, Chile

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Nataly Cisternas San Martín is currently the Curriculum Advisory Coordinator at the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Concepción, where she also leads a research project focused on the development of generic competencies.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Saturday Schedule

Bookmark