The generic competences: an opportunity for ethical learning in the European convergence in higher education

The objective of the European Higher Education Area is, among others, to adopt a comparable degree framework for both undergraduate and post-graduate studies. Different kind of studies, with a European extent (e.g. the Tuning Project and the DeSeCo Project), suggest that, on finishing their undergraduate studies, students should have acquired a series of general competences common to all courses. In this article, our hypothesis for discussion is that the acquisition of general competences, especially the interpersonal and systemic ones, is closely related to the objectives of ethical learning: the training of professionals and citizens who build their knowledge independently and act responsibly, freely and in a committed manner. This paper is a part of the Research Project HUM2004-06633-CO2-01/FISO, financed by Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia y Fondos FEDER, and is included in the R + D + I Group 03/179, of the Generalidad Valenciana.