Analysis of the General Skills of Graduates in Environmental Sciences: The View of Students, Teachers and Employers

Abstract

General competencies are crucial for the personal and professional growth of university graduates. This paper provides a critical analysis of the significance and level of competence development within the environmental sciences degree (ESD) context. The research involved surveys conducted among final-year students, faculty members, and industry employers. The survey results reveal that employers perceive the level of competence achieved to be higher than what teachers and students reported. However, all three groups acknowledge a high level of competence development for most skills. Nonetheless, certain competences such as critical thinking (CT), problem-solving, organisation, and planning need to be strengthened to better align with their perceived importance. Students tend to undervalue essential competences such as digital literacy and environmental awareness, contrary to international organisations’ recommendations. The study findings also underscore the necessity of enhancing “entrepreneurial skills” and emphasising the significance of the digital realm for students pursuing an environmental sciences degree.