Skills and Capabilities
Contents
Main
Skills can be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills. Research skills for example may entail diligence, logical rigor and the ability to strive for original knowledge. For certain careers management skills may be important.
Conceptualizations
Competencies acquired by Science and Engineering PhDs and their demand
Lee and colleagues (2010)[1] compare the demand for different types of competences acquired in science and engineering (S&E) PhDs across different career types.
The results are from a survey of S&E graduates from one university in the UK between 1998 and 2001. The study shows that the competences that PhDs find important in their careers varies according to career type:
- knowledge directly tied to subject areas is regarded as more valuable in academia/ public research
- both general knowledge directly tied to subject areas and general and transferable skills are regarded as valuable in technical positions in manufacturing
- general and transferable skills are regarded as more valuable in employment outside the conventional technical occupations
- general analytical skills and problem solving capability acquired from doctoral education are perceived as valuable in all three career types.
Overall, this study suggests that S&E PhD careers can flourish in different sectors and occupations thanks to a diversity of competences acquired in doctoral training.
Research Traits
Laudel and Gläser (2008)[2] subsume capabilities under researcher’s traits, which in addition include research goals and interests in pursuing a research career.
Sources
- ↑ Lee, H. F., Miozzo, M. & Laredo, P. (2010). Career Patterns and Competences of PhDs in Science and Engineering in the Knowledge Economy: The Case of Graduates from a UK Research-Based University. Research Policy 39(7), 869–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2010.05.001
- ↑ Laudel, G. & Gläser, J. (2008). From Apprentice to Colleague: The Metamorphosis of Early Career Researchers. Higher Education 55(3), 387–406. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-007-9063-7
Lists
Cognitive Attributes
