Competences for Liberal Arts

1. Competences for Liberal Arts Outlines of the presentation : 1. Stake and Definitions 2. Subject specific competences (in History) 3. Generic competences 4. Why hire a Liberal Arts Major ? 5. Competences in History curriculum Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

2. Competences for Liberal Arts 1. Stake and definition 1.1. An important academic and political issue A crucial problem in many European countries because of the massive influx of students in this field : how they may be employed ? How can they use their competences for employability Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

3. Competences for Liberal Arts 1. Stake and definition 1.2. Definition of competences : One can speak of competences only in a professional context. To be competent in a specific professional field is to be able to apply learning outcomes, by developing the adapted abilities or capacities so as to be efficient in the profession. = a well-thought-out know how, which implies to master knowledge and skills in relation with the professional context Two kinds of competences (both are academics) : • Subject specific competences : they allow to be efficient in the related academic disciplines. • Generic competences : they allow to be efficient in all professional situations. Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

4. Competences for Liberal Arts 1. Stake and definition 1.3 Education in Liberal arts has a great advantage : It develops a lot of generic competences, either - Instrumental competences - Interpersonal competences - Systemic competences Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

5. Competences for Liberal Arts2. Subject specific competences 2.1. Awareness : • A critical awareness of the relationship between current events or processes and the past. • Awareness of the differences in historiographical outlooks in various periods and contexts. • Awareness of and respect for points of view deriving from other national or cultural backgrounds. • Awareness of the on-going nature of historical research and debate • Awareness of the issues and themes of present day historiographical debate. • Awareness of methods and issues of different branches of historical research (economic, social, cultural, gender related..). • Awareness of and ability to use tolls of other human and social sciences (anthropology, archaeology, sociology, philosophy etc…) Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

6. Competences for Liberal Arts2. Subject specific competences 2.2. Knowledge : • Detailed knowledge of one or more specific period of the human past. • Knowledge of and ability to use information retrieval tools • Knowledge of and ability to use the specific tools necessary to study any kind of documents • Knowledge of ancient languages • Knowledge of local and national history • Knowledge of European history in a comparative perspective • Knowledge of the history of European integration • Knowledge of world history • Knowledge of didactics of history Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

7. Competences for Liberal Arts2. Subject specific competences 2.3. Abilities : • Ability to communicate in one’s own language and foreign languages using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historiographical profession (oral and written communication) • Ability to read historiographical texts or original documents in one’s own language and foreign languages. • Ability to use computer and internet resources and techniques elaborating historical or related data (statistics, database, archives, cartography etc…) • Ability to define research topics suitable to contribute to historiographical knowledge and debate • Ability to identify and use appropriately sources of information for research project • Ability to organise complex historical information in coherent form • Ability to comment, annotate or edit texts and documents according the canons of the discipline • Ability to give narrative form ti research results according to the canons of the discipline Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

8. Competences for Liberal Arts3. Generic competences 3.1. Instrumental competences • Capacity for analysis and synthesis • Capacity for organisation and planning • Basic general knowledge • Grounding in basic knowledge of the profession • Elementary computing skills • Languages • Information management skills (ability to retrieve and analyse information from different sources) • Problem solving • Decision-making Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

9. Competences for Liberal Arts3. Generic competences 3.2. Interpersonal competences • Critical and self-critical abilities • Teamwork • Interpersonal skills • Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team • Ability to communicate with experts of other fields • Appreciation of diversity and multiculturality (understanding of cultures and customs of other countries) • Ability to work in an international context • Ethical commitment Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

10. Competences for Liberal Arts3. Generic competences 3.3. systemic competences • Capacity for applying knowledge in practice • Research skills • Capacity to learn • Capacity to adapt to new situations • Capacity for creating new ideas (creativity) • Leadership • Ability to work autonomously • Project design and management • Initiative and entrepreneurial spirit • Concern for quality Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

11. Competences for Liberal Arts4. Why hire a Liberal Arts Major ? The good way of defining competences for social and human sciences = to be able to give answers to this basic question Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

12. Competences for Liberal Arts4. Why hire a Liberal Arts Major ? 4.1. Five reasons : • Liberal art majors are passionate, self-motivated learners • Liberal art majors are tolerant, culturally-aware and globally knowledgeable • Liberal art majors possess good communication skills • Liberal art majors are not limited by specialization • Liberal art majors needs sphere of activity to deepen and develop their competencies Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

13. Competences for Liberal Arts4. Why hire a Liberal Arts Major ? 4.2. Main competences to be outlined in Liberal Arts : • Foreign languages (not only to speak but also to understand the cultures) ; all communication skills. • Ability to develop creative solutions to problems • Ability to think outside the lines, and to consider the bigger picture • Ability to think abstractly • Capacity of self and continuous learning for deepening and developing knowledge and skills. • Ability to gather resources and perform research independently • Willingness to take on the unfamiliar, the ”culturally different” • Awareness of cultural and global issues • Ethical commitment ; tolerance, respect the opinions of others • Analyzing situations for cause and effect correlation • Ability to consider multiple perspectives • Ability to adapt to new situations and to open to new opportunities • Ability to question and challenge Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

14. Competences for Liberal Arts5. Competences in curricula Competences represent a dynamic combination of knowledge, understanding, skills and abilities. Fostering competences is the object of educational programmes. Competences will be formed in various course units and assessed at different stages. When designing a curriculum in liberal arts, this aspect must be always kept in mind. Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

15. Competences for Liberal Arts5. Competences in curricula Some concrete examples in History : • How to elaborate a course unit (or module) • Correlation between competences and teaching/learning activities • Competences and cycle level Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

16. 5.1.How to elaborate a course unit Unit coursen° xxxx : Intercultural communication and multicultural societies Programme of study : Master in History. Progression : 3rd semester Type of course : core ; Level : advanced. Contact hours : 2 / week Number of credits/workload : 5 (125 h ) Name of the teacher : X Competences to be developed (and assessed ) : • Awareness of diversity and multi culturality • Ability to work in multicultural contexts • Ability to understand and appreciate original documents produced by a foreign culture • Ability to a sound and personal judgment about complex problems • Capacity for analysis and synthesis • Oral and written communication in native language. Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

17. 5.1.How to elaborate a course unit Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

18. 5.2. Competences correlated to teaching/learning activities Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

19. 5.3. Competences and cycle level Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

20. 5.3. Competences and cycle level Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

21. 5.3. Competences and cycle level Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007

22. Some questions ?... Thank you for your attention Jean-Luc Lamboley, promoteur de Bologne, Prishtina June 2007