TY - JOUR
T1 - Skills and Competencies Gained From a Psychology Bachelor's Degree
T2 - European Graduates’ Perspectives
AU - Papageorgi, Ioulia
AU - Falzon, Nicola
AU - Sokolova, Lenka
AU - Stuchlikova, Iva
AU - Salvatore, Sergio
AU - Williamson, Morag
AU - Foster, Juliet
AU - Pavlin-Bernardic, Nina
AU - Beara, Mirjana
AU - Bakker, Helen
AU - Dutke, Stephan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Results from a survey conducted by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations Board of Educational Affairs are reported. A total of 227 psychology graduates from across Europe responded to an online survey. Participants were presented with a set of psychology subject-specific competencies and a set of general competencies and asked to rate the extent to which (a) their Bachelor studies supported the development of these competencies and (b) these competencies were relevant for employment as well as to comment on the value of a Psychology Bachelor degree. Findings suggest that an education in psychology develops psychological skills, but also graduates with more general competencies. Overall, psychological competencies appear to develop to a high level through the Bachelor in Psychology, with the exception of specific practical skills. On the contrary, general competencies appear to not develop to an adequate degree. Practical skills focusing on the administration of psychological tools, psychometric instruments and specialist software, as well as general competencies relating to computer literacy skills, communication skills and team-working skills should be further developed to prepare graduates adequately for employment. The study highlights the value of an education in psychology particularly for those individuals who do not wish to enter the applied psychology professions or academia.
AB - Results from a survey conducted by the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations Board of Educational Affairs are reported. A total of 227 psychology graduates from across Europe responded to an online survey. Participants were presented with a set of psychology subject-specific competencies and a set of general competencies and asked to rate the extent to which (a) their Bachelor studies supported the development of these competencies and (b) these competencies were relevant for employment as well as to comment on the value of a Psychology Bachelor degree. Findings suggest that an education in psychology develops psychological skills, but also graduates with more general competencies. Overall, psychological competencies appear to develop to a high level through the Bachelor in Psychology, with the exception of specific practical skills. On the contrary, general competencies appear to not develop to an adequate degree. Practical skills focusing on the administration of psychological tools, psychometric instruments and specialist software, as well as general competencies relating to computer literacy skills, communication skills and team-working skills should be further developed to prepare graduates adequately for employment. The study highlights the value of an education in psychology particularly for those individuals who do not wish to enter the applied psychology professions or academia.
KW - competencies
KW - Europe
KW - generic skills
KW - Psychological skills
KW - psychology bachelor
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85166012025&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/14757257231187532
DO - 10.1177/14757257231187532
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85166012025
SN - 1475-7257
JO - Psychology Learning and Teaching
JF - Psychology Learning and Teaching
ER -