Global and Citizenship Competence Conceptualization Through Sustainability Paradigm

Abstract

Nowadays, the ideological focus of sustainable development is leading in all industries worldwide. Sustainable education enriches the understanding of the link between social, ecological, and economic needs; develops the ability to take responsibility for their own daily choices and contribute to a fairer future for present and future generations. All levels and areas of education invest in sustainable development, including higher education programs, which play a crucial role in putting sustainability ideas into practice. Therefore, in April 2022, the University of Latvia implemented the second round of the study, “Assessment of Competences of Higher Education Students and Dynamics of Their Development in the Study Period”, within which multidimensional research of students’ transversal competencies is continued. The first round of the study identified that the theoretical approaches to the distinction and consolidation of global and civic transversal competencies are contrasting. For that reason, this study aims to analyze civic and global transversal competencies’ common, diverse, and unifying aspects. The design of a cartographic review was chosen for conceptualization. The aim is to structure the literature items included in the study, based on which a classification scheme was created, and the field of aspect coverage was identified. The study data were analyzed using the qualitative data processing program NVivo 12.0. As a result, the various aspects of the two transversal competencies have been identified. The theoretical framework of global civic competence is formulated based on the aspects identified in the coverage field.