Students’ ability to act independently in university studies

As modern society requires comprehensively educated specialists, development of generic abilities has become an extremely important part of study programmes. Generic abilities have significant importance for the four main purposes of higher education set by the European Union: the development and maintenance of a broad, advanced knowledge base; preparation for the labour market; preparation for life as active citizens in a democratic society; personal development. These purposes can be achieved by moving to a new content policy oriented towards the development of generic abilities and values as well as acquisition of competencies that a contemporary person should possess. Such education is based not on giving and acquiring knowledge but rather on the analysis of knowledge, its critical assessment and practical use while closely relating educational content and practice in various fields, arising problems and their solutions. This new approach emphasises the importance of generic abilities that stimulate students’ independenceEdukologijos tyrimų institutasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta