Modeling and Validation of Competency Frameworks for Degree Programs

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 36
  In Roundtable Session: Alternative Approaches to Higher Education Assessment

Abstract

A competency framework is a matrix defining competency-oriented objectives for degree programs. Simply put, it is designed to highlight what students are supposed to be able to do after they complete their studies. Competency frameworks form the basis for a differentiated assessment of students’ professional, methodological, and social competence and self-competence. Based on input from internal stakeholders (e.g. heads of degree programs: academic/university perspective) a specific target structure was designed for eight Bachelor’s and eight Master’s degree programs in the discipline Business Studies and geared towards ‘typical’ future work scenarios of graduates. A total of 39 guided interviews were conducted to validate these documents from external stakeholders (e.g. employers: entrepreneurial perspective) after the competency frameworks were refined and finalized.

Authors

• Alexander Baumgartner, Zurich University of Applied Science

• Claude Mueller, Zurich University of Applied Sciences