SCIENTIFIC COMPETENCIES: A MECHANISM TO FAVOUR THE INCLUSION OF WORKING MARKET PROFESSIONALS

Institutions of Higher Education seek to instil in their students the scientific competencies throughout the guidance of different included courses in their curriculums. However, the assimilation of diverse methodologies evidence the lack of development of those scientific competencies necessary for professionals to be graduated and therefore required by the labour market. This research examines the research competencies of students of higher education sample (N=189) to determine their appreciation towards scientific competencies they consider to have developed in both their educational processes. The results prove the perception of subjects in respect to the development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, decision-making, problem-solving and acquisition of scientific competences, the basic ones; use of technology, appropriation of new knowledge, self-learning and search of information, specialized competences, drafting of reports, design of articles, presentations, development of degree works and definition of new projects. The application of ANOVA detects that there are significant differences according to the gender of subjects on competencies referred to the search of physical information where women stand out, and reading comprehension of documents in English where men stand out. Besides, it's demonstrated that these competences contribute to students' critical thinking. IES required to include research as mechanism to strengthen the education.