Tendencies on ability related to competence education when realizing undergraduate public health study system

Vaclovas Šveikauskas

Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania

Key words: integrated competences, ability, public health studies.

Summary. The aim of this paper is to reveal tendencies on competence and ability education when realizing undergraduate public health study program in the interaction context of traditional and modern higher education features. Competence is implementation of qualification or the ability to act, conditioned by individual’s knowledge, skills, motives, personal characteristics, and values. The integrated competence is necessary for the change of the internal and external work conditions; it is based on the integrity of behavior and knowledge that conditions the essential change of activity. The holistic competence is necessary for a new work development and the transfer of qualification to new situations; it is conditioned by holistic approach toward education.

When researching undergraduate public health study program in the context of traditional and modern higher education features at Kaunas University of Medicine, the following problems were stated: insufficient qualities of student’s self-analysis, self-directed learning and formation of communication skills; insufficient communication of teachers and students during study process; limited possibilities team work with representatives of other professions when solving problems of public health improvement.

Correspondence to V. Šveikauskas, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eivenių 4, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: vaclov@kmu.lt

Received 2 June 2005, accepted 15 February 2006