Acquiring key competencies at Göttingen University

When seeking gainful employment, university graduates must live up to high professional standards. Alongside sound knowledge in their scientific or academic field, university graduates should possess cross-disciplinary qualifications relating to their chosen profession (key competencies): These key competencies form the cornerstone of a goal-oriented curriculum and lay the foundation for sustainable success in a working career. At Göttingen University, these competencies are taught according to an additive and integrative method; every student enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's degree programme must learn them as an integral and compulsory part of their professionalisation curriculum. Learning key competencies is even firmly anchored in the curriculum of many doctoral degree programmes as well. Göttingen University offers a broad range of key competency modules that enable students to individually shape their ability to perform in their chosen profession. Students can acquire additional qualifications that suitably match their customised educational profile in the following areas of competency:

Area of competency	Examples of taught competencies
Language	Foreign languages
Factual knowledge	Orientation along the professional areas Interdisciplinary subject modules
Methodological competencies	Rhetorical skills Data processing/information technology Informational competencies Presentation technology Project management Work organisation Academic and scientific work Publishing competencies
Personal competencies	Time & self management Personality building Learning strategies
Social competencies	Intercultural competence Ability to work in a team Moderation techniques / communication skills Leadership competence

The key competency modules offered at the university are upheld by three pillars: 1) The intradepartmental and intrafaculty modules (described in the regulations governing each degree programme), 2) the cross-faculty key competency modules of many major subjects (go to link) and 3) the key competency modules offered by the central institutions (e.g. Central Institution for Languages and Key Competencies (ZESS) and the IT Service for Students. This setup gives students the option to acquire key competencies not only within their major subject but also independently of their major and across multiple disciplines.