Reading and university: Study of reading habits of Spanish and Portuguese university students

Abstract

The process of adaptation to the Bologna process undergone by Spanish universities only provides for reading skill as a transversal or cross-cutting competency of a basic instrumental nature within the framework of development of generic competencies. It is, however, essential to achieve said reading skill at university; this consists of the development and strengthening of voluntary reading behaviours, generating lifelong reading habits. Although it may seem surprising, the data obtained from the study of a significant sample of Spanish and Portuguese students reflect that a number of university students lack reading habits or do not read voluntarily. The data obtained reaffirm the fact that educational institutions and university libraries must offer resources and services aimed at promoting reading, with the goal of strengthening the reading skills of university students.