Higher education and professional performance: gaps and opportunities for developing professional skills in marine biologist graduates

Abstract

Professional training plans play a pivotal role in higher education institutions, as they significantly impact employability, graduate performance, and meeting labour market demands. These aspects serve as crucial indicators in the selection processes for prospective candidates in higher education institutions and in accrediting the quality of both degree programmes and the institutions themselves. This study examines the perceptions of Marine Biology graduates from a university in northern Chile regarding the quality and relevance of the training they received during their undergraduate studies. The graduates express concerns about deficiencies in transferrable skills, such as ‘teamwork’, ‘effective communication’, and ‘conflict resolution’, as well as some technical skills that are vital for preparing graduates with social competences necessary for success in inter- and transdisciplinary contexts, essential in fostering positive interactions between society and the ocean. The study proposes curriculum updates and a strategy for establishing a bidirectional link with Marine Biology graduates, including mutual feedback, fostering graduate loyalty, strengthening ties to the working world, and implementing accountability processes. These aspects are critical in professional training, contributing to the optimisation of curricular plans, enhancing employability, and improving job performance across all disciplines and higher education institutions. © 2023 Royal Society of Biology.

Keywords

Author Keywords

professional skills Perception Engagement graduates marine biology Professional performance

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations

Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Coquimbo, CO, Chile, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, AN, Chile

Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Coquimbo, CO, Chile, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, AN, Chile, Regional Explora Coquimbo (MinCiencia), Coquimbo, Chile, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, AN, Chile

Funding & Acknowledgements

Universidad Católica del Norte, UCN

The study was conducted at the Department of Marine Biology of the Faculty of Marine Sciences of the Universidad Católica del Norte, a private regional university funded by the State of Chile, located in the city of Coquimbo (30° S). The degree programme in marine biology, the third oldest in Chile, has been offered since 1981. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in marine sciences (‘Licentiate’ in Chile), students can continue to obtain the professional title of Marine Biologist or pursue postgraduate studies such as a master’s degree in marine sciences, doctorate in Biology and Applied Ecology, or doctorate in Aquaculture in the same faculty or at other national or foreign universities. The marine biology career track has maintained the highest entrance scores compared to similar programmes in other Chilean universities for years. This study focused on Marine Biology graduates, who have completed their studies, obtained a bachelor’s degree and, for some years, are already inserted in the working world. While there is no universal agreement to refer to this group of people, according to Gallo () the word ‘graduate’ refers to an individual who has been trained by the university for something greater, prepared for the world of work and equipped with key competencies, this being the definition we adopted in our study.

References 10 References

1 Revista De Comunicacion De La Seeci, (2013)

2 Alcota, Marcela, Factors influencing professionalism during dental training at the University of Chile: perception of students and patients, BMC Medical Education, 23, 1, (2023)

3 Una Aproximacion A La Percepcion Que Tienen Los Las Egresados as De Las Carreras De Pedagogia Respecto A La Formacion Recibida En La Universidad De Los Lagos Osorno Chile, (2011)

4 Revista De Biologia Marina Valparaiso, (1992)

5 Barnes, Benita J., Doctoral Student Satisfaction: An Examination of Disciplinary, Enrollment, and Institutional Differences, Research in Higher Education, 53, 1, pp. 47-75, (2012)

6 Boonstra, Wiebren J., What are the major global threats and impacts in marine environments? Investigating the contours of a shared perception among marine scientists from the bottom-up, Marine Policy, 60, pp. 197-201, (2015)

7 Borja, Angel, Moving Toward an Agenda on Ocean Health and Human Health in Europe, Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, (2020)

8 Bowler, Diana E., Mapping human pressures on biodiversity across the planet uncovers anthropogenic threat complexes, People and Nature, 2, 2, pp. 380-394, (2020)

9 La Saeta Universitaria, (2016)

10 Metodologias De Investigacion Social, (2006)

Higher education and professional performance: gaps and opportunities for developing professional skills in marine biologist graduates

How to Cite