Strengths and weaknesses of the polysemic concept of "competencies"

Abstract

Throughout the ongoing processes of globalization, the current promotion of competences has gained increasing presence in academic and professional spheres of many nations. The main purpose of this article is to deepen the knowledge of the strengths (advantages) and weaknesses (disadvantages) of properties common to a wide variety of meanings attributed to the term "competences". The research —eminently qualitative— is based on the analysis of a purposive sampling of 22 definitions, of the term itself, published in a period of 40 years (1973-2013), by an equal number of authors. Around the polysemic concept of competencies, the existence of ten essential properties inherent to their nature is observed; namely: structure, context, conception, education and training approach, habituation process, reference to values, dimension, stage of life, impermanence and epistemological paradigm. It is assumed that knowledge of these properties allows pondering individual and collective competence approaches' strengths and weaknesses, from different points of view and purposes, which increases the success probabilities of education and training initiatives under specific conditions