UOC competencies are interdisciplinary, transferable skills that are included in all of the University's courses and are one of the distinctive features of every UOC graduate.
This differential quality is an intrinsic part of the institution and consistent with the unique features that make it different: students with a distinctive profile and a methodological model that is like no other, developed by a Catalan distance university open to the world that uses ICTs intensively.
The UOC competencies in its bachelor's degrees and university master's degrees are as follows:
UOC Competencies for Bachelor's Degrees
1. Foreign language: Show a level of command of a modern language equivalent to B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in the comprehension and production of spoken and written texts in academic and professional contexts.
Students must be able to provide evidence of the following learning outcomes:
• Understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, within the programme's field of specialization.
• Express themselves verbally with a sufficient degree of fluency and naturalness that guarantees smooth, effortless conversation.
• Produce clear, detailed texts on a variety of topics.
• Argue a point of view on general subjects, explaining the pros and cons of the different options.
• Make unprompted use of the resources available on the internet to improve and develop skills in English/French/German.
2. Use and application of ICTs: Use and apply digital technologies in academic and professional settings.
Students must be able to provide evidence of the following learning outcomes:
• Identify and know the most suitable digital technologies and media for each situation and be able to use them unaided.
• Communicate and work effectively in a network, choosing the best tools and applying the most appropriate languages and strategies.
• Find, select and retrieve digital information, applying a critical understanding, and effectively and sustainably leverage the potential of the Web and digital tools.
• Create and edit digital contents in different formats, using the most appropriate tools and languages.
• Present and disseminate digital contents effectively, using the most appropriate tools and digital media.
• Show an attitude befitting a responsible digital citizen with respect to Web security and privacy, and the management of digital identities and copyrights in different contexts.
3. Global and ethical commitment: Behave honestly, ethically, and sustainably, exercising social responsibility and respect for human rights and diversity, in both academic and professional practice.
Students must be able to provide evidence of the following learning outcomes:
• Recognize, understand and respect functional, social, cultural, economic, political, linguistic and gender diversity.
• Recognize, understand and analyse the causes and effects of gender-based inequalities.
• Identify the features of a professional practice that gives priority to the quality of the results achieved, applying criteria based on sustainability and social responsibility.
• Understand and act in accordance with the ethical principles that guide professional practice (and, where applicable, in accordance with the professional code of ethics).
• Perform academic work ethically, honestly and responsibly, avoiding any improper use of other people's work.
• Interact with others in a manner that is respectful and assertive, avoiding statements contrary to people's values and dignity.
• Resolve dilemmas related with the recognition and attribution of ideas and written works within the academic or research texts themselves, guided by principles of ethics and integrity in academic work.
UOC Competencies for University Master's Degrees
1. Global ethical commitment: Behave honestly, ethically, and sustainably, exercising social responsibility and respect for human rights and diversity, in both academic and professional practice, and design solutions for improving these practices.
Students must be able to provide evidence of the following learning outcomes:
• Include the analysis of functional, social, cultural, economic, political, linguistic and gender diversity in academic and professional practice.
• Analyse the causes and effects of gender-based inequalities and formulate actions to counteract them.
• Design and assess academic or professional projects, applying criteria grounded on the principles of quality, sustainability and social responsibility.
• Critically assess the application of the ethical principles that guide professional practice (and, where applicable, the professional code of ethics) in complex situations.
• Perform academic and professional work ethically, honestly and responsibly, avoiding plagiarism or any other improper use of other people's work.
• Resolve dilemmas related with the recognition and attribution of ideas and written works within the academic or research texts themselves, guided by principles of ethics and integrity in academic work.