Hurix DigitalHurix DigitalHurix DigitalHurix Digital
  • Home
  • What we do
    • Digital Content Solutions
      • eLearning & Training Solutions
      • Higher Education Solutions
      • K-12 Content Solutions
      • Design, Animation & Video Services
    • Digital Content Transformation
      • Production Services
      • Pre Press & Editorial Services
      • Quality As A Service
      • Robotic Process Automation
    • Digital Engineering & Technology
      • Learning Technology Services
      • Managed Cloud Services
      • Custom Software Development
      • E-Commerce Solutions
      • Business Analysis as a service
    • Digital Platforms
      • Kitaboo
      • Kitaboo Insight
      • Kitaboo College
      • Learning Management System
  • Who we are
    • About Us
    • Life at Hurix
    • Careers
  • Who We Serve
    • Higher Education Institutions
    • K-12 Institutions
    • Enterprises
    • Publishers
    • Societies & Nonprofit Associations
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • How To Guides
    • Whitepapers
    • Point Of View
    • Awards
    • Press Releases
    • Podcast
  • Contact Us
Competency Based Education

How does Competency Based Education Prepare Students for Employment

By Preeti Jasnani | Digital Content Solutions | Comments are Closed | 9 June, 2021 | 0

In recent years, competency-based education (CBE) has garnered much focus from universities and colleges worldwide. One of the main reasons for its popularity is an improved chance of employability for students. Other factors such as affordability and its flexible structure ensure that this is not just a passing trend.

Competency-based learning facilitates career development since there’s a great emphasis on mastering skills than merely completing credits in a program. Based on the preferred or chosen field of study, students channel all their attention into perfecting their competencies and becoming employable in the future.

In a competency-based program, learning outcomes are what determine the success and not the number of classroom hours. Until they demonstrate the proficiency needed for their domain, they cannot progress to a higher level. That said, a great perk of competency-based learning is that students can proceed at their own pace.

This blog explores how CBE prepares students for employment in detail.

How is Competency Based Education (CBE) different from traditional learning?

The conventional model of learning differs from competency-based learning in various aspects, including the structure, learning outcomes, and grading:

  • Structure: In the former time-based model, the curriculum or structure is set in advance. Each student is required to move forward even if they have not fully mastered the relevant skills. On the contrary, CBE focuses on individual capabilities and supports students in their learning journey until they are proficient in their field of study.
  • Learning outcomes: Memorization is how learning outcomes are achieved in the traditional model, while competency-based education prioritizes a deep understanding of the concepts through application. This way, students develop an attitude to become life-long learners, a necessary trait that’s required throughout their professional lives. The goal is not just to “pass the test” but develop the skills and capabilities specific to their domains.
  • Grading: Behavior, assignments, and test scores determine the grades in the traditional learning approach. On the other hand, competency-based learning scores are evaluated based on each student’s performance levels without any bias. Educators use creative and personalized assessments to check each student’s progress.

Listed below are some of the attributes and skills used to judge the performance of students:

  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Empathy and global stewardship
  • Curiosity and imagination
  • Oral and written communication
  • Resilience and grit
  • Vision for the future
  • Agility and adaptability
  • Self-regulation, hope, and optimism
  • Initiative and entrepreneurialism
  • Collaboration across networks

Without a doubt, these are highly desirable attributes in an employee and make students employable for the future.

What do educators think about Competency Based Education (CBE) ?

The advantages of competency-based learning have greatly impacted educators and higher education learners alike. This model has shattered the belief that learning must happen within a classroom and should be time-bound.

Instead, it transforms students into life-long learners. Moreover, it focuses on personalized learning, demonstration of mastery, and research-based learning. In 2018, the American Institutes for Research and Eduventures conducted a survey called the National Survey of Postsecondary Competency-Based Education (NSPCBE).

Its findings suggest that nearly 95% of institutions surveyed showed interest in CBE activity. The respondents reported that improving learning outcomes is their biggest motivation for adopting competency-based learning.

Apart from that, 55% of them regard this program as a means to improve opportunities for nontraditional students. The statistics only highlight the fact that educators feel positive about this skill-based approach.

Factors that improve students' employability

This section explains the main features of competency-based education that shape the students’ future by enhancing their employability.

1. Building skills for life

In competency-based education, the learning objectives are the competencies to be developed by the student. Instead of just knowledge, the emphasis is on understanding the practical aspects of the domain.

The school leadership defines these competencies in advance that primarily include:

  • Comprehension of key concepts
  • Ability to apply knowledge
  • Dexterity of relevant skills

When students apply for their first job, they don’t have any experience. However, these skills can tremendously increase their chances of getting hired.

2. Taking ownership of work

The goal of each class shouldn’t just be available to teachers. Instead, both parents and students should be clear about the learning objectives.

Before starting the class, students must know:

  • What they will learn
  • How mastery is defined
  • How they will be evaluated

With an end goal in mind, students tend to take more responsibility and accountability for their education. For instance, to design a small garden, they need to apply the skills learned in math class.

When learners understand the need and objective, they take ownership. As a result, they become better learners, which is a key attribute required in an employee. In any organization, employees need to be able to upgrade themselves and use their new skills to better themselves and contribute to their organization.

3. Preparing for real-world experience

Competency-based education (CBE) offers a way to look beyond just accomplishing grades. Gaining real-life skills is what’s in demand these days. The goal of competency-based education is to groom students to become future leaders in their field.

Irrespective of the faculty chosen, including healthcare, engineering, writing, etc., students can truly become experts in their field and use their knowledge in the companies they’re hired in. On the other hand, a tangible experience is what’s missing in traditional learning.

4. Developing a culture of learning

Another great feature of competency-based education (CBE) is that it’s purpose-driven. A vibrant culture and a clear purpose are its very foundation. Moreover, it’s a perfect blend of relationships, opinions, and values – something that is quite desirable in any organization.

Competency-based education promotes a culture of learning and empowers a distributed leadership.

Conclusion

Competency-based education allows students to learn and master real-life skills. Moreover, students can develop various other attributes, including adaptability, resilience, communication, imagination, critical thinking, entrepreneurialism, etc.

It prepares students for a world beyond their classrooms. They can thus overcome real-life challenges and adapt to the culture of an organization with ease.

Need to know more about our Products & Services ? Drop us a Note.

We respect your privacy. We use the information you provide us to send you relevant content about industry trends and our products & services. You may unsubscribe from our list at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy
CBE, competency based learning, competency-based education, competency-based program

Preeti Jasnani

Preeti Jasnani is the Vice President of Higher Education Solutions at HurixDigital. With 25 years of experience across Learning & Performance Consultancy, Instructional Design, Technology, Training & Academia, Preeti brings in a wealth of knowledge in the content and learning design domain.

More posts by Preeti Jasnani

More Resources

  • Case Studies
  • Whitepapers
  • How To Guides
  • Point of View
  • Awards
  • Press Release
  • podcast

Follow Us

Recent Posts

  • How-to-create-the-Best-Simulation-training-for-your-company
    18 January, 2023
    Comments Off on How to Create the Best Simulation Training for Your Company?

    How to Create the Best Simulation Training for Your Company?

  • Here's-Why-You-Should-Digitize-Your-Training-&-Development-Program-in-2023
    18 January, 2023
    Comments Off on 7 Reasons Why You Should Digitize Your Training & Development Program in 2023

    7 Reasons Why You Should Digitize Your Training & Development Program in 2023

  • What-are-Staffing-Solutions-and-How-Do-They-Help
    18 January, 2023
    Comments Off on The Importance of Staffing Solutions: All You Need to Know

    The Importance of Staffing Solutions: All You Need to Know

  • Why-Do-You-Need-Learning-&-Development-Consulting-Services-in-2023
    18 January, 2023
    Comments Off on Why Do You Need Learning & Development Consulting Services in 2023?

    Why Do You Need Learning & Development Consulting Services in 2023?

Categories

  • Digital Content Solutions
  • Digital Engineering & Technology
  • Digital Products & Platforms
  • Digital Transformation Services
  • Higher Ed & K-12 Solutions

Services & Solutions

  • Managed Cloud Services
  • Flash To HTML5 Conversion
  • Custom Software Development
  • eLearning & Training Solutions
  • Pre Press & Editorial Services
  • Higher Education Solutions

Products and Platforms

  • Kitaboo
  • Kitaboo Insight
  • Kitaboo College
  • Learning Management System
  • ePUB3 Conversion

Resources

  • Blog
  • Case Studies
  • Press Releases
  • How To Guides
  • Whitepapers
  • Point Of View

About Us

  • Our Clients
  • Contact Us
  • Awards
  • CSR Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
Copyright © 2023 Hurix | All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • What we do
    • Digital Content Solutions
      • eLearning & Training Solutions
      • Higher Education Solutions
      • K-12 Content Solutions
      • Design, Animation & Video Services
    • Digital Content Transformation
      • Production Services
      • Pre Press & Editorial Services
      • Quality As A Service
      • Robotic Process Automation
    • Digital Engineering & Technology
      • Learning Technology Services
      • Managed Cloud Services
      • Custom Software Development
      • E-Commerce Solutions
      • Business Analysis as a service
    • Digital Platforms
      • Kitaboo
      • Kitaboo Insight
      • Kitaboo College
      • Learning Management System
  • Who we are
    • About Us
    • Life at Hurix
    • Careers
  • Who We Serve
    • Higher Education Institutions
    • K-12 Institutions
    • Enterprises
    • Publishers
    • Societies & Nonprofit Associations
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Case Studies
    • How To Guides
    • Whitepapers
    • Point Of View
    • Awards
    • Press Releases
    • Podcast
  • Contact Us
Hurix Digital
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT