Teaching-learning methods and their effect on professional development and the development of graduates' competencies

This article analyses the effect of the teaching-learning methods used in Spanish universities on three measures of educational output: average mark, graduates' assessment of their professional performance in different dimensions, and their assessment of the acquisition of professional competencies and skills. Multi-level models were used in which graduates (first level) are grouped by field of study (second level). The Class attendance and Written work methods have the most influence on the average mark but influence the graduates' working future the least, as measured with assessments of professional aspects or competencies. In contrast, Problem-based learning, In-company internships and Practical and methodological knowledge are the methods that bear the most influence on the graduates' professional careers and their development of specific professional competencies.