International Competences for Undergraduate Psychology (ICUP): Highlighting the Value of Undergraduate Psychology Education in Personal, Work, and Community Domains

Abstract

The value of undergraduate psychology education has been questioned, especially in countries where most graduates do not pursue further training to become licensed psychologists. Partly to address this concern, the International Collaboration on Undergraduate Psychology Outcomes, involving 120 members from 47 nations, developed the International Competences for Undergraduate Psychology (ICUP) model. This model comprises 24 foundational competences across seven categories: psychological knowledge, psychological research methodologies and methods, psychology-relevant: values and ethics, cultural responsiveness and diversity, critical thinking and problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills, and personal and professional development. Designed to complement national models, ICUP highlights how psychology graduates can meaningfully contribute in personal, work, and community domains. In this article, we briefly describe the value of ICUP in each domain and answer commonly asked questions from stakeholders. We provide examples of educational approaches to demonstrate value for students (applying the competences in life and work), educators (using the competences to prepare students for life beyond graduation), employers (making explicit what competences psychology graduates offer), and communities (demonstrating how competences might foster psychologically literate citizenship). We assert that the ICUP model enhances the perceived and actual value of an undergraduate psychology degree by articulating its broad, foundational impact.