Decision making in Higher Education. Transversal competences analysis

Abstract

The development of transversal competences is a key element for transitioning into the workforce for undergraduates. However, it is also one of the underdeveloped competences of higher education in relation to knowledge, society, and the professional world. Decision-making is one of the most complex transversal competences due to the different dimensions and processes that are involved. Learning this competence requires organization, management, and time. The aim of this article is to analyze how the teaching of decision-making in university undergraduate degrees is executed. 2363 course syllabi of various degrees from the University of Murcia were examined with this aim. The results of the analysis show an important interest in decision-making, but are absent in the planning, development and execution of activities, methodologies or contents related to it. Finally, the adoption of strategies aimed at learning and the practice of decision-making in the different university subjects through the curricular fusion of transversal competences and contents is suggested.