Research trends in the development of generic skills
IntroductionGeneric skills, also known as soft skills, are transversal competencies essential for professional success, encompassing cognitive, social, and emotional abilities. Despite their relevance, leadership behaviors during the implementation of educational methodologies reveal gaps in underst...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1629392/full |
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| author | Diana Marleny Ramírez-Ramírez Erica Agudelo-Ceballos Jesus Alberto Jimenez Garcia Alejandro Valencia-Arias Sebastián Cardona-Acevedo Jackeline Valencia Erick Ynoquio |
| author_facet | Diana Marleny Ramírez-Ramírez Erica Agudelo-Ceballos Jesus Alberto Jimenez Garcia Alejandro Valencia-Arias Sebastián Cardona-Acevedo Jackeline Valencia Erick Ynoquio |
| author_sort | Diana Marleny Ramírez-Ramírez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionGeneric skills, also known as soft skills, are transversal competencies essential for professional success, encompassing cognitive, social, and emotional abilities. Despite their relevance, leadership behaviors during the implementation of educational methodologies reveal gaps in understanding how to effectively develop these skills in specific sectors.MethodsA bibliometric analysis was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 protocol to identify trends, key contributors, and thematic evolution in research on generic skills. The review synthesized publications from relevant databases, mapping authorship, institutional contributions, and conceptual clusters.ResultsThe analysis indicated a notable growth in research output during 2021 and 2022. Key references included Chan, the journal Studies in Higher Education, and contributions from Australia and the United Kingdom. The thematic focus evolved from “Transferable Skills” toward “Higher Education” and “Engineering Education,” with conceptual clusters such as “General Education,” “Higher Education,” and “Gamification.” Emerging terms like “employability” and “leadership” were identified as central to the discourse.DiscussionFindings highlight the increasing scholarly attention to soft skills in educational contexts, yet also reveal the persistent need to integrate these competencies systematically into teaching and leadership practices. Based on the observed thematic trends, a research agenda is proposed that emphasizes the incorporation of innovative methodologies and emerging technologies to strengthen soft skills development across diverse sectors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4010861eb7f8426a9a0ba621133a9a15 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2504-284X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-4010861eb7f8426a9a0ba621133a9a152025-08-21T05:27:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2025-08-011010.3389/feduc.2025.16293921629392Research trends in the development of generic skillsDiana Marleny Ramírez-Ramírez0Erica Agudelo-Ceballos1Jesus Alberto Jimenez Garcia2Alejandro Valencia-Arias3Sebastián Cardona-Acevedo4Jackeline Valencia5Erick Ynoquio6Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Medellín, ColombiaDepartamento de Ciencias Administrativas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Medellín, ColombiaDirección de Planificación y Desarrollo Institucional, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PeruEscuela de Ingeniería Industrial, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PeruFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Medellín, ColombiaVicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno, ChileFacultad de Ingeniería Informática y de Sistemas, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo, PeruIntroductionGeneric skills, also known as soft skills, are transversal competencies essential for professional success, encompassing cognitive, social, and emotional abilities. Despite their relevance, leadership behaviors during the implementation of educational methodologies reveal gaps in understanding how to effectively develop these skills in specific sectors.MethodsA bibliometric analysis was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 protocol to identify trends, key contributors, and thematic evolution in research on generic skills. The review synthesized publications from relevant databases, mapping authorship, institutional contributions, and conceptual clusters.ResultsThe analysis indicated a notable growth in research output during 2021 and 2022. Key references included Chan, the journal Studies in Higher Education, and contributions from Australia and the United Kingdom. The thematic focus evolved from “Transferable Skills” toward “Higher Education” and “Engineering Education,” with conceptual clusters such as “General Education,” “Higher Education,” and “Gamification.” Emerging terms like “employability” and “leadership” were identified as central to the discourse.DiscussionFindings highlight the increasing scholarly attention to soft skills in educational contexts, yet also reveal the persistent need to integrate these competencies systematically into teaching and leadership practices. Based on the observed thematic trends, a research agenda is proposed that emphasizes the incorporation of innovative methodologies and emerging technologies to strengthen soft skills development across diverse sectors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1629392/fullsoft skillsPRISMA 2020collaborative learningcrosscutting competenciesleadership |
| spellingShingle | Diana Marleny Ramírez-Ramírez Erica Agudelo-Ceballos Jesus Alberto Jimenez Garcia Alejandro Valencia-Arias Sebastián Cardona-Acevedo Jackeline Valencia Erick Ynoquio Research trends in the development of generic skills Frontiers in Education soft skills PRISMA 2020 collaborative learning crosscutting competencies leadership |
| title | Research trends in the development of generic skills |
| title_full | Research trends in the development of generic skills |
| title_fullStr | Research trends in the development of generic skills |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research trends in the development of generic skills |
| title_short | Research trends in the development of generic skills |
| title_sort | research trends in the development of generic skills |
| topic | soft skills PRISMA 2020 collaborative learning crosscutting competencies leadership |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2025.1629392/full |
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