Competences of Flexible Professionals: Validation of an Invariant Instrument across Mexico, Chile, Uruguay, and Spain

Andrea Conchado Peiró, José Miguel Carot Sierra and Elena Vázquez Barrachina
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Andrea Conchado Peiró: Department of Applied Statistics and Operational Research, and Quality, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, s/n. Building 7A, 46022 Valencia, Spain
José Miguel Carot Sierra: Department of Applied Statistics and Operational Research, and Quality, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, s/n. Building 7A, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Elena Vázquez Barrachina: Department of Applied Statistics and Operational Research, and Quality, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, s/n. Building 7A, 46022 Valencia, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to validate and test latent mean differences in a second-order factorial structure for self-assessed competences across four Spanish-speaking countries (Spain, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay). Assessments of 11,802 higher education graduates about their own level of competences were examined. According to our findings, latent mean differences observed in our data lend support to earlier findings in the context of universities from these four countries. In order to compare assessments from different countries, we previously found support for metric and scalar invariance in a second-order factor structure, including innovation, cooperation, knowledge management, and communication, organizational and participative competences. These findings have serious managerial implications in regard to institutional evaluations developed by national accreditation bodies and identification of competence requirements by the labor market. In addition, our research provides a powerful tool for young students and employers, as it contains valuable information about what competences should be expected by students when finishing their studies.

Keywords: cross-cultural research; competences; invariance; Bologna; Latin America; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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