A presentation given to JISC and CETIS colleagues in Bristol, 2009-04-29, on the reasons why JISC might want to engage with the topic of competences in their programmes and funding.

1. The case for competences
Simon Grant
2009-04-29

2. Known motivators
 Learners keeping track of learning
 Learners transferring between institutions
 Learners having summary of what they have learned
 HEIs producing useful HEAR, DS, transcript
 HEIs preparing students for next steps
 F/HEIs collaborating in educational ventures
 HEIs broadening course intake, opening up pathways
 Professional bodies setting learning agenda
 Employers engaging with HE, if skills are relevant

3. Common points: intersect how?
 Personal development – planning goals
 Education – learning outcomes
 Assessment – criteria
 Reporting – HEAR, DS, etc. possibilities
 For courses, jobs, memberships – requirements
 Career, professional development – skills, competence
 including the NOSs of the SSCs

4. Technical openings
 HEAR
 Europass – Learner Mobility documents (incl. DS)
 XCRI and (closely related European) MLO
 LEAP2A
We are closely involved in all of the above
Some others not so close, e.g.
 HR-XML
The idea would be to coordinate with all, not build in
(IEEE RCD is known, but far from a full solution)
Focus on interrelationships across frameworks

5. Evidence of interest
 CEN European Learner Mobility discussion
 setting up SIG for competence
 PIOP projects final reports
 Medical education interest
 Leeds, ALPS CETL
 Scottish NHS e-portfolio
 seems like all others spoken with have active interest
 JISC projects
 past e.g. ioNW2
 present e.g. SRC

6. Work ideas already on agenda
 PIOP / LEAP2A work identified
 but this should not be seen in isolation
 plausible links to several other activities
 (indeed, that's the main point of new focus on competence)
 Multipurpose meeting probably July 1st
 use example of medical education requirements
 look at tool capabilities
 serves LEAP2A extension
 but also may identify other needs

7. Describe
 What are the findings of other studies / reports? Can
they be brought together in a framework relevant to JISC
purposes?
 What common domain model of skill/competence would
work across all the relevant areas in several domains?
 What features are needed?
 What distinctions between what aspects of competence?
 How do frameworks need to be cross-linked?
 How can we maximise the potential to establish equivalence
across frameworks?

8. Create
 Interoperable frameworks of competence suitable for
portfolio tools
 Information model
 Experimental specification
 Coordinated with LEAP2A but not part of it
 Aim to allow tools simple plug-in of frameworks
 Start with real requirements of medical education
 Demonstrator tools for managing equivalences
 Demonstrator tools for pathway discovery

9. Thanks...
 ... for inviting me to present
 ... for your attention
 ... for your consideration of the ideas
 ... for your feedback

10. Thanks...
 ... for inviting me to present
 ... for your attention
 ... for your consideration of the ideas
 ... for your feedback