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DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCIES AS PART OF LIFELONG LEARNING
E. Padechowicz
This article addresses the issues of lifelong learning as a continuous development of competencies needed for the commencement of employment. The article discusses the key competencies necessary to the functioning of the occupational environment and also quoted research on competencies expected by employers.
Key words: competence, continuing education, employee, core competencies, work.
In Poland, by 2010 the current document on lifelong learning was a lifelong learning development strategy, adopted by the Council of Ministers on July 8, 2003. More current document is "The prospect of learning throughout life," which is in the Annex to Resolution No. 160/2013 of the Council of Ministers of September 10, 2013 year. This document refers to the good preparation of children and young people to learn throughout life, as well as talking about by adults to improve and complement their skills, qualifications according to the needs, challenges facing them in working life, society and the private sector. This objective is associated with an increase in the competitiveness of the Polish economy, mobility, readiness to change, increased social and professional activity [8].
Lifelong learning is defined by the European Commission and the European Making Area of Lifelong Learning a Reality as various forms of learning undertaken throughout life, which are designed to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies in terms of individual, civic, social or professional. Quoted content of the document and the definition of tackling the issue of continuing education and development of their competence. It is justified, since the modern labor market is characterized by dynamics, difficulties in obtaining employment and increasing demands of employers. In a knowledge-based economy in many professions, it is advisable to continuous improvement, upgrading their skills and competence development, which are obtained in non-formal and informal forms of learning through self-study or participation in courses or training. Competence development is essential in achieving more effective results at work, in being a professional in this field. As one pillar of education from the report Education. It is the treasure of Jacques Delors' ‘learn to act’ should be noted that if a man wants to keep up with the changes must be effective. Handling unit is based on the communication skills, resistance to stress, the rationality of the decision. Also noteworthy is the pillar of "learning to be", which assumes development aimed at continuous improvement of the human life. This means that the greater experience of life the wider professional development opportunities. Having knowledge is very valuable, but in the modern world it is more important to use it in practice. To achieve success alone knowledge is not enough, practice is necessary, which is associated with the development of competencies[4]. It should also be noted that in the modern world there is no guarantee of lifelong employment, which is why a man must be set to the permanent development. Continuing education is treated as a process of acquiring skills and competences. It is worth noting that it is not possible to acquire competence in the school, because over the years growing up man is focused on
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the development of these competencies that were previously not known to him or were unnecessary, non-existent, not used, for example some may already be replaced by another due to the technological transformation [2].
In my article, I would like to refer to the key competencies required in the performance of any work, but also to employee competencies expected by employers, which are mainly acquired informally. They are called social competence, the so-called. soft. In the first place is important to clarify the term competence. It was first used by Richard Boyatizsa in The Competent Manager, where he described it as ‘the potential that exists in man, which contributes to the fulfillment of the requirements for a specific workplace’[5], and Wincenty Okon believes that they are ‘the power to act, the result of the learning process’[6]. On the other hand, key competencies developed by the Commission of the European Communities by the Parliament and the Council of Europe of 18 December 2006 in a document Key Competences for Lifelong life-European reference framework are defined as "those which all individuals need for personal fulfillment and development, to be creative citizen social inclusion of employment" [10]. They are shaped not only in school, but also lifelong learning is a reference to the Lisbon Strategy, which refers to the framework defining the new basic skills obtained in the process of learning throughout life, which are the main component of the knowledge economy[7]. European reference framework for key competences in 2006 define the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to every person struggling for employment. The main eight are: (a) communication in native language; It includes collection and processing of information, expressing their arguments orally and in writing in a convincing manner by using a rich vocabulary; (b) communication in foreign languages; mastery of languages increases the possibility of working abroad, appreciation of cultural diversity, and greater social contacts; (c) ability to learn; includes reaching out to new knowledge and skills, self-learning, self-discipline; (d) competence math and basic competences in science and technology; the ability to develop and apply mathematical thinking to solve problems that arise in everyday situations; (e) competence information; associated with computers; (f) social and civil competence, understood as the ability to work in groups, the ability to engage effectively in the public domain, respect for human rights; (g) initiative and entrepreneurship; reporting, workflow, task requests, analyzing, communicating; (h) cultural awareness and expression; express themselves through various means of artistic expression of natural ability[10].
Writing about the competence should be mentioned the International research competencies PIAAC adults (2011-2014), which was conducted in 24 countries identified 15 groups of competencies needed in the modern world, which include: (1) problem solving; this can be interpreted as a skillful recovering from the difficulties, the ability to be assertive and possession of negotiating skills as well as skills of active listening; (2) team working; a group achieves greater success than an individual, there is a synergy effect because the ability to work with others is a big advantage for the entire company; (3) communication; It facilitates the transfer of information; (4) influence on the others; particularly important competence in leadership positions; (5) planning own time; any project that modern worker takes, must be made within a specified time, so it must learn to skillfully manage it; (6)
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planning time with other people; (7) manual efficiency; (8) reading prose; (9) essential skills while delivering speeches; (10) reading documents; (11) writing; (12) basic and advanced counting; (13) using the Internet, as well as the use of the computer. Almost in all workplaces that require high qualifications, it is necessary to have computer skills [9].
According to Malgorzata Krawczyk-Blicharska key competencies form the basis for the formation of wider social skills that allow coping in educational, professional and family situations. The key competence refers to the ‘soft’ skills. According to the author importance of social skills has increased, what employers emphasize, they postulate the education system and training, taking into account the changing demand for skills. Social skills are preferred for employee competence, employers are increasingly turning attention not only to education, which is classified as hard competence, but also on soft (soft skills) called competence future. In 70% of the work is obtained thanks to the expertise and 30% competence, where 70% work is lost because of the lack of social skills, and 30% due to qualifications. This shows how important it is to develop competence, before entering the labor market, as well as in the course of work, and that employers take them into account both when hiring employees and while doing the assessment of their work. It is worth quoting research on competencies expected by employers. Malgorzata Krawczyk-Blicharska shows that most employers expect from an employee teamwork skills, communication skills, logical thinking, coping with new situations ability to use his professional skills, coping with stress, however, less important are knowledge of computer programs, foreign languages or personal development^]. The study of Anna Dybata shows that employers feel the employees are not enough independant (15.8%), do not make quick decisions (14.6%), are not opened to change the attitude of learning autonomy (14.2%). The test results also demonstrated Anna Dybata that when selecting an employee, the employer shall take into account the personal culture (84%), professional skills (83%), networking skills-81%, experience-80%, confidence, creativity, ingenuity-75 % [1]. In both studies were highly rated communicative competence, which in my opinion can also be regarded as the most important. Without their development any potential employee even a really good one in his field will not be able to present the knowledge in an attractive way and the employer will never think of him as a useful candidate.
These results of research have shown that the skills and especially the development of social skills are necessary to gain employment. The labor market has its own rules, where higher education and the acquisition of skills has become a generality. A man wanting to stand out from the crowd must present himself as the best possible, showing he has all the skills with the performance of the work, and continuing education allows him to do so. Focus on the development of competencies should be done as early as elementary school, by exposing the essential features of such employee. On workshops, the parents also may determine certain behaviors early, because instead of the continuous repetition of "learn and you'll go far", you can say "learn by whole life, shape yourself, your attitude, skills and attitude to others and you will succeed". Such a small difference, but it certainly contribute to the understanding of competencies as an essential part of learning, and also of our lives.
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