History
Pioneering Higher Education Didactics Since 1997
The Department of Key Competencies and Higher Education Didactics was established in 1997, emerging from a five-year state-funded model project. Its mission is to support the faculties and institutes of Heidelberg University in achieving the quality goals for teaching and learning adopted by the University Senate on June 26, 2012. This support focuses on interdisciplinary and non-academic quality factors, provided through continuing education and advisory services.
Key Competencies as a Guiding Principle
Key competencies refer to cross-disciplinary, personality-related skills that extend beyond academic knowledge to include values and the capacity for action. In a world of work and society that is undergoing increasingly rapid change, we understand these competencies as the "key" to successfully navigating ever-evolving demands and areas of knowledge.
Our programs are guided by the Heidelberg Model, which identifies four core areas of key competencies:
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Active Orientation: Being aware of one’s own values and acting with agency in response to challenges.
- Who am I, and what do I want?
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Goal-Oriented Action: The ability to define and pursue personal and professional goals with flexibility.
- How do I achieve my goals?
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Self-Directed Learning: A prerequisite for lifelong learning and continuous development of knowledge and skills.
- How can I continue to grow?
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Social Competence: The capacity to communicate about goals and values and to act cooperatively and with social responsibility.
- How do I communicate and collaborate with others?
- How do I communicate and collaborate with others?