Stakeholders Tell the Story of Competency-Based Higher Education

WASHINGTON, DC – A recently released report provides the most detailed and accurate description to date of what competency-based education (CBE) looks like from the perspectives of learners, higher education professionals, policymakers and others involved in this rapidly expanding movement. The report gives everyone involved in CBE programs a baseline understanding and common language to guide the development of high-quality programs.

CBE, a learning model in which progress toward degree is determined by student demonstrations of learning rather than seat time, is not new. But the recent explosion of interest in building CBE programs expressed by more than 500 schools is redefining CBE. This report reflects the outcomes of nearly two years of community-based, qualitative research that included the analysis of existing materials, interviews, surveys and focus groups.

The Competency-Based Education Ecosystem Framework is part of a multipronged effort led by Public Agenda, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Lumina Foundation. This effort responds to calls from higher education for more resources to so support planning and decision-making around competency-based degrees.

“The Ecosystem Framework provides common reference points that tell the story of where CBE is today,” says Laurie Dodge, co-chair of the Competency-Based Education Network, whose 30 institutions and four public systems collaborate to address CBE design and implementation challenges. Dodge also is the vice provost at Brandman University. “This framework will help strengthen and support anyone who is committed to building high-quality CBE programs.”

The Ecosystem Framework summarizes and defines core relationships and activities, which it calls organizing frames, from the perspectives of learners and higher education professionals, as well as from within CBE programs. The five organizing frames are:

  1. Core People or Programs who administer or participate in CBE programs;
  2. Settings or places where CBE is designed, delivered and demonstrated;
  3. Higher Education Institutions and Communities that offer CBE programs;
  4. Supporting Organizations or companies involved, but not offering or funding CBE programs; and
  5. Funding and Governing Groups that set policies, fund and promote or prohibit CBE programs.

“Everything we do in this report is for the learner. But depending on who you are, your experience looks different,” says Stephanie Malia Krauss, lead coordinator of the Ecosystem Framework and senior fellow with the Forum for Youth Investment. “The CBE landscape involves a lot of players, and this framework shows us what different relationships look like and what matters most to quality CBE programs.”

“Modern forms of CBE have emerged in higher education as viable and needed alternatives to traditional postsecondary credentialing programs where time and place are fixed,” adds Dodge. “While these frameworks provide a baseline understanding of the CBE ecosystem, we also know that these descriptions will change as the ecosystem evolves.”

A companion document is also available: Shared Design Elements and Emerging Practices of Competency-Based Education Programs.

Featured

  • MiEN Releases White Paper on Community College Space Innovation

    MiEN Company recently released a new white paper called “Designing New Innovative Spaces for Community Colleges” to address the needs of community colleges post-pandemic, according to a news release. The eight-page guide by Dr. Christina Counts, MiEN Company VP of Education and Marketing, covers topics like the enrollment drop that these schools have seen since COVID-19, the roles they play in higher education and local workforces, and five suggested key changes that can improve students’ experiences.

  • New Jersey PreK–12 School Breaks Ground on New STEM Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently announced that it has broken ground on the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the design of the new facility, which will provide the school with space to expand its STEM and business education classes.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.

  • Image courtesy of Armstrong International

    The Modern Hot Water System Approach to Keep Higher Education Buildings Safe and Operational

    Higher education campuses face unique structural and operational demands. With a range of old and new buildings, a variety of facility types, and ambitious sustainability goals, it's essential that no aspect of infrastructural performance is overlooked. Facility managers must be equipped to provide a safe, reliable and efficient space for students, faculty and guests.

Digital Edition