Self-Assessment of Knowledge, Professional Skills and Social Competence of Students as a Basis for the Evaluation of the Curriculum of Tourism and Recreation Studies

Abstract

The aim of this study is an analysis of self-assessment of professional skills and competences of Tourism and Recreation students, as well as an attempt to indicate the possible uses of education mechanisms to modify and enrich curricula so that they take into account the need to develop students’ social skills. The research used a diagnostic survey method. Subjects included 88 students of the Faculty of Physical Culture and Health Promotion at the University of Szczecin. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of results was based on standard statistical methods: incidence of features, a Chi-squared test and a multi-dimensional correspondence analysis. Most students of Tourism and Recreation identified with their chosen field of study. Self-assessment of students’ knowledge – especially in terms of their major – was not high. There was a correlation between identifying oneself with the field of study and self-assessment of competences. Students who identified with their field of study more, reported higher self-assessment of their competences. Efforts to adapt the curriculum to the level of preparedness of candidates and the needs of the labor market correlate with the obtained results. These efforts should bring the desired effect of increased competences, whose deficit was detected during the research.