Exploring the Core Competencies Required for University Education in the With COVID-19 Era

Objectives This study is to recognize the changes in university education after COVID-19 and to explore core competencies that should be emphasized especially in such changes. Methods For this purpose, the literature review and the FGI and Delphi surveys of 18 university education experts were conducted. Results The main results of this study are as follows: First, non-face-to-face education will continue and expand in the situation of COVID-19 prolonged, and ‘self-educational competence, empathic communication, cooperative attitude, media literacy’ competence is especially important. Second, it is expected that the class using smart technology and edutech will be expanded. In this environmental change, ‘4-IR smart technology utilization, media literacy, creative problem solving ability, challenge practice ability, ethical critical thinking ability’ is required. Third, it is expected that social needs and meanings of the role of university education will be restructured, and the importance of ‘citizen consciousness, creative problem solving ability, career creation competence, and convergence ability’ is highlighted. Fourth, the development and operation of joint curriculum between universities are expected, and in this environment, ‘convergence ability, cooperative attitude, and career creation competence’ are emphasized. Conclusions It is expected to be used as useful basic data for resetting core competencies in future by presenting core competencies that are still important regardless of COVID-19, core competencies that should be emphasized more after COVID-19, and newly highlighted core competencies.