Title: Competencies: the triumph of a fuzzy concept

Authors: Marcel R. van der Klink, Jo Boon

Addresses: Educational Technology Expertise Centre, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands. Educational Technology Expertise Centre, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands

Abstract: This article investigates the current popularity of the concept of competencies. After a brief exploration of perspectives on the concept of competencies, a study will be presented that was conducted in order to gain more insight into the backgrounds of the current status of this concept and to investigate competency-based practices. The study investigated the applications in enterprises and higher education. The last section summarises the main findings and raises some issues that need further elaboration.

Keywords: definition of competency; competency-based education; competency-based HRM; employability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2003.002415

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2003 Vol.3 No.2, pp.125-137

Published online: 17 Jul 2003 *

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