Author Information
Fumiyo Seimiya, Hosei University, JapanRihyei Kang, Hosei University, Japan
Abstract
This paper aims to theoretically organize and clarify how the concept of generic skills is being redefined in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) through an integrative analysis of historical discussions and international competency frameworks. Much of the existing discourse on AI-era skills has remained limited to an “additive” approach that incorporates new capabilities such as AI literacy into existing frameworks, without critically examining the underlying assumptions on which generic skills have been based. Traditionally, generic skills have been defined primarily as transferable abilities that enhance employability (Andrews & Higson, 2008; Bennett et al., 1999) and conceptualized as individual characteristics. However, these discussions rest on pre-AI premises and appear insufficient to explain what generic skills should be in the new environment where humans and AI collaborate. This study adopts a conceptual review methodology and examines a literature corpus composed of three groups: foundational academic research, international competency frameworks, and AI-era policy and analytical documents. These are analyzed along three dimensions: purpose, locus of competence, and orientation toward change. The analysis identifies three conceptual shifts in the redefinition of generic skills: (1) from skills for employability to skills that support human flourishing; (2) from individual characteristics to relational capabilities that support human-AI collaboration; and (3) from adaptive response to transformative agency that leads change. Additionally, this paper points out that generic skills development in universities has formed a “third educational domain” distinct from traditional disciplinary education and professional training, and discusses the need to re-examine this domain in the AI era.
Paper Information
Conference: IICAH2026Stream: Humanities - Teaching and Learning
This paper is part of the IICAH2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Seimiya F., & Kang R. (2026) Redefining Generic Skills in the AI Era: A Conceptual Review Based on Historical Evolution and International Frameworks ISSN: 2432-4604 – The IAFOR International Conference on Arts & Humanities – Hawaii 2026 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 233-246) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2432-4604.2026.20
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2432-4604.2026.20
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