Generic Skills, Academic Achievement, and Means of Improving the Former

In Canada, in general – and in the Province of Ontario in particular – academics, employers, and government agencies are concerned with the low generic skill levels of university students and graduates. The assumption is that such deficiencies detract from academic and job success. Despite this concern, in Canada, research has not focused on potential links between objectively measured generic skills and grades recorded in administrative records. In view of this lacuna, the current research has two objectives. First, to assess the net effect of objectively measured generic skills on academic achievement as recorded in administrative records. Second, to determine the efficacy of an online course dedicated to the development of generic skills. Overall, I found that generic skills were better predictors of students’ achievement than high school grades used in admission processes; the relationship between high school grades and generic skill levels was weak; students’ generic skill levels did not improve over time; and an online course devoted to increasing students’ generic skills was effective in boosting skills to an acceptable level. Accordingly, if they are concerned with academic achievement, universities in Ontario and in other jurisdictions in which students are admitted to university primarily based on their secondary school grades might make the development of generic skills a priority; however, unless such skills are demanded across the curriculum, they will atrophy.

Competencies and attributes needed by accounting graduates (alumni) in the world of work (perceptions of Politeknik Negeri Lampung accounting alumni and perceptions of the employer)

The objective of this research was to test perceptions of accounting graduates fromPoliteknik Negeri Lampung and employers to various competencies and their attributes. Theperceptions of accounting graduates and employers were ranked to produce competence types(attributes) that were categorized into two skills; generic and technical skills. The researchrespondents were graduates of the Accounting Study program in Politeknik Negeri Lampungand representatives from employer or company managements. The hypothesis was tested witha one-tailed paired t-test and ranking was done based on the mean score from each skill. Theresearch result showed that the accounting graduates considered generic skill was overall moreimportant than technical skill, even though individually technical skill was more important thangeneric skill and it was proven by the highest mean score at technical skill according to theaccounting graduates‟ perceptions. This research also found that overall the employerconsidered generic skill was more important than technical skill, even though individuallytechnical skill obtained the highest mean score according to employer perceptions.

Generic skill profiles of future accountants and auditors – moving beyond attributes

PurposeThis study investigates perceptions regarding generic skills future entry-level accountants and auditors will require. Such soft or pervasive skills are necessary to operate effectively in the future world of work. Prior research mainly explores generic skills from an attribute-based perspective, while this paper combines it with an activity-based perspective in generic skill profiles of accountants and auditors.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a mixed methods research approach through focus group discussions and a survey involving more than 3,000 professional accountants and/or auditors, the study uses data from the Southern African region (South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia) to determine views on the competency needs of future accountants and auditors. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine whether categories of generic skills for future entry-level accountants and auditors differ.FindingsFour generic skills factors emerged as essential for future entry-level chartered accountants (CAs): digital, decision-making, organisational and business acumens. Three generic skill factors emerged for future registered auditors (RAs): digital, practice and commercial acumens. The results show that generic skill profiles of CAs and RAs, who are members of an accounting body differ and that both the context, related to an activity-based perspective, and individual or internal abilities, related to an attribute-based perspective, matter.Research limitations/implicationsThe study extends generic skill theory by identifying broad categories of generic skills (referred to as acumens) for future accountants and auditors.Practical implicationsInsights from this paper facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the generic skill profile approach, combining attribute-based and activity-based perspectives, and this could assist accounting educators, practitioners and professional bodies to better prepare entry-level accounting and audit professionals for the workplace.Originality/valueThe study identifies broad categories (digital, decision-making, organisational, business, practice and commercial acumens) within generic skill profiles of CAs and RAs and shows that generic skills do not operate independently and should be viewed as an interdependent set or constellation of competencies.

Pengembangan Lembar Kerja Peserta Didik (LKPD) Kimia Berbasis Keterampilan Generik Sains

[ Development of Chemistry Workbook Based on Science Generic Skill ] Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi karena kurangnya ketersediaan bahan ajar yang dapat membantu peserta didik dalam proses pembelajaran dan belum adanya penggunaan LKPD berbasis keterampilan generic sains. Dalam penelitian ini dikembangkan LKPD berbasis Keterampilan Generik Sains untuk mendukung pembelajaran pada materi larutan penyangga. Jenis penelitian merupakan penelitian pengembangan dengan menggunakan desain Borg and Gall, yang dilakukan di SMA Negeri 1 Tambang. Data yang diambil dalam penelitian ini yaitu berupa data angket, wawancara, dan studi pustaka. Instrumen pengumpulan data berupa data angket uji validitas dan angket uji praktikalitas. Data yang diperoleh kemudian dianalisis dengan teknik analisis deskriptif kualitatif dan deskriptif kuantitatif. Lembar Kerja Peserta Didik (LKPD) yang dihasilkan telah teruji valid dengan persentase 86,88% (sangat valid) dan teruji praktis dengan persentase 89,09% (Sangat Praktis). Dari hasil tersebut disimpulkan bahwa Lembar Kerja Peserta Didik berbasis keterampilan generik sains pada materi larutan penyangga sudah valid dan praktis sehingga dapat dilakukan uji coba selanjutnya

Generic skills in accounting education in Saudi Arabia: students’ perceptions

PurposeThe purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the perceptions of Saudi university accounting students of the importance of developing generic skills in their accounting education, the levels of competence they should acquire and expect to achieve during the academic study, and the constraints that may hinder the development of generic skills in accounting education.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses the skills outlined in the IFAC’s International Education Standards (IES) 3 (intellectual, personal, organizational and business management, and interpersonal and communication) and IES 4 (ethics in accounting/business). A survey questionnaire was used to collect the data.FindingsThe findings show that students perceived all five generic skill categories to be important, with ethical skills rated as the most important. However, the students expected that they would achieve a somewhat lower level of generic skill by the end of their studies in all areas, and they perceived a number of constraints that impede their skill development. The results indicate the importance of developing generic skills in accounting education and suggest that the Saudi accounting education system could do more to provide students with opportunities to develop generic skills to enable them to succeed in their future careers.Originality/valueAs little of the current literature has focused on generic skills in accounting education in a non-Western country, this research contributes to the literature on generic skills in a developing nation.

Reading to Be: The role of academic reading in emergent academic and professional student identities

Despite the widespread acknowledgement of the importance of academic reading, much research tends to focus on academic writing. The role of academic writing in the development of academic and professional identities is generally accepted. In contrast, the role of academic reading has been less visible in the literature, and when discussed, it tends to be conceptualised as a generic skill. In this paper, we explore the role of reading in emergent academic identities in undergraduates. We reflect on research with our own Nursing and Midwifery students that highlighted the role of reading in the development of ‘writing capital.’ Drawing on this and wider evidence we explore how, through academic reading, students begin to recognise, and then participate in the scholarly conversations that construct knowledge within disciplines. We argue that academic reading, like academic writing, is a complex ongoing process that involves multiple transitions, rather than a skill that can, and should, be mastered early on. We contend that educators need to consider how and where academic reading is addressed within academic programmes. Moreover, we suggest ways to make room for it within our curricula and engage students in conversations about the nature of scholarship within their disciplines.

General Skill Domain in Industrial Training Currency using Fleiss Kappa Method

The purpose of this research is to obtain the most appropriate generic skills element agreement during the training industry to meet industry needs. The design used is a sequential exploration using a mixed method approach consist document analysis and questioner. The sample of this study involved 8 experts consisting of 4 industry representatives and 4 academic representatives. The findings using qualitative methods by analysing MQF 2018 documents report that 14 generic skills elements are identified. Whereas, the findings using a strongly correlated method by analysing Fliess Kappa are used to measure the most appropriate generic skill element index in implementing activities. The findings show that 3 generic skills that are not suitable to be applied in the curriculum training industry based on the agreement experts include entrepreneurs, ethics and integrity as well as continuous learning skills from 11 generic elements of skills. The researcher hopes that the findings can be utilized by the higher education as a guide in the development of a generic skills curriculum that is more focused on training

The Analysis of Project-Based Learning Integrated with Entrepreneurial Science Thinking in Terms of Symbolic Language Enhancement of Science Generic Skill

Project-based learning integrated with Entrepreneurial Science Thinking (EnSciT) is a model that involves the students in playing the learning based on their own discovering, researching, and creating project using science knowladge to produce a science-based and innovative product that can be accepted by the people. The purpose of this research is to analyze the implementation of project-based learning integrated with EnSciT in terms of students’s symbolic language enhancement. The method of this research is One Grup Pretest-Posttest Design. This research using instruments of generic science skill test, observation sheet, and questionnaire. The analytical technique using n-gain test. Students’s science generic skill enhancement resulting gain factor of 0,523 in medium criteria. The characteristics of project-based learning integrated with EnSciT growing creative thinking that trains the symbolic language. Symbolic language skill increased signifcantly resulting gain factor of 0,82.