The Development of Civic Competence in Higher Education to Support a Sustainable Society: The Case of Latvian Higher Education

Dace Medne, Agnese Lastovska (), Gatis Lāma and Jana Grava
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Dace Medne: Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Riga Technical University Liepāja Academy, 3401 Liepaja, Latvia
Agnese Lastovska: Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Latvia, 1083 Riga, Latvia
Gatis Lāma: Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, University of Latvia, 1083 Riga, Latvia
Jana Grava: Riga Technical University Liepāja Academy, 3401 Liepaja, Latvia

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: When examining the crucial role of civic competence in fostering sustainable societies, economies, and ecosystems, its significance for cultivating responsible and engaged citizens in our ever more interconnected global landscape must be recognized. Notably, education influences the development of civic competence throughout the learning experience at all levels of education. This research aims to explore the evolution of students’ self-assessment in terms of civic competence and its three subcompetences. The objective is to comprehend the present status of students’ self-assessments and explore their potential impact on the formation of a sustainable society. Data were collected for this study using an assessment tool elaborated in the ESF project “Development and Implementation of the Education Quality Monitoring System” for students’ generic competences. The tool, presented in a digital form using the QuestionPro platform, measures six generic competences, including civic competence. A total of 1166 bachelor’s degree students and 354 master’s degree students participated in this study, representing 22 Latvian higher education institutions. This study’s findings indicate that civic competence in the sample is considerably lower than the other generic competences measured, with a greater dispersion of results. The results also highlight specific areas within universities that require improvement during the learning process to cultivate individuals who are sustainable and socially responsible members of society.

Keywords: civic competence; self-assessment; sustainable societies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2238-:d:1353033

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