Student Core Competencies

What are they?

Lethbridge College has advocated some form of student competencies for many years. Now referred to as Student Core Competencies, these areas of student development were formerly known as “21st-Century Skills” and, before that, “College-Wide Outcomes.” But what does this mean? Student Core Competencies might be described as life skills, professional skills, or employment skills. These are skills all students will develop to varying levels during their time at Lethbridge College—in addition to the knowledge and skills gained in their areas of subject matter expertise. Core competencies are developed both inside and outside of the classroom. And although these competencies go beyond subject matter and program focus, they are essential to student success.

Click on the images for more information on each competency.

Learn more about the Innovation competency.

Innovation

Innovation encompasses experimentation, creation, imagination, risk, and entrepreneurship. It involves investigating challenges, typically searching for a method, opportunity, idea or product/service where none existed before, or using something in a way it has never been used.

Learn more about the Problem Solving competency.

Problem Solving

Problem solving consists of applying the skills, attitudes, and behaviours needed to effectively generate and implement ideas to address a need or challenge. A problem-solver is resilient, makes decisions, and employs creativity, flexibility, and critical thinking to deliver solutions.

Learn more about the Global Citizenship competency.

Global Citizenship

Global citizenship involves actively engaging with a variety of cultural, environmental, political, and economic systems. It includes acknowledging Indigenous and global perspectives when taking action on local or global issues.

Learn more about the Critical Thinking competency.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking involves the application of the skills, attitudes, and behaviour needed to effectively research, organize, evaluate, and use information from a variety of digital and non-digital sources for specific purposes.

Learn more about the Teamwork & Collaboration competency.

Teamwork & Collaboration

Teamwork & Collaboration involves building collaborative relationships, products, and services with others who represent diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, abilities, lifestyles, and viewpoints. Developing this competency includes working within a team structure as well as negotiating and managing conflict.

Learn more about the Communication competency.

Communication

Communication is the ability to effectively read, write, speak, listen to, represent, and view information. Communication may be verbal, non-verbal, formal, or informal, and is used for a variety of purposes, audiences and situations. Individuals demonstrate respect, responsibility and empathy when communicating with others.

Learn more about the Career & Personal Development competency.

Career & Personal Development

Career and Personal Development involves setting academic, career, and wellness goals and striving to achieve them. Developing this competency includes identifying personal strengths and abilities and using them in various settings. Implementing strategies such as self-reflection, goal setting and goal meeting is also a fundamental aspect of career and personal development.

How do you use them?

Students

If you’re a Lethbridge College student, visit your Lethbridge College Canvas community, The Hive, to earn your first badges.
Look for ways to get involved and develop these skills inside and outside of the classroom.
Ask your instructors how you can earn badges in your courses.
If you’ve done something outside of class that demonstrates the core competencies, apply for a badge assessment in The Hive.
Share your badges from The Hive to social media, on your resume, in your portfolio or even print a certificate.
Get involved in Lethbridge College Student Core Competency promotion, assessment, and development for an opportunity to earn even more badges!

Staff and Instructors

Award Lethbridge College Student Core Competency badges in your courses.
Get involved in Lethbridge College Student Core Competencies promotion, assessment, and development.

Alumni, Employers and the Community

Look for Lethbridge College Student Core Competency badges when searching for high quality employees.
Get involved in Lethbridge College Student Core Competency promotion, assessment and development.

Why do they matter?

Student Core Competencies matter because they contribute to students’ academic success as well as their success after graduation. While students’ development in these areas isn’t currently measured, it’s evident that demonstrating these competencies is critical to employment success and personal development. In fact, engagement with local employers indicates that core competency development is a sought-after quality in new hires. By clearly defining core competencies, Lethbridge College provides students with a clear pathway to develop these soft skills and helps students articulate their competency development to employers.

How were they designed?

The competencies were designed using input from many college departments and staff members. A working group established in May 2018 conducted background research and met regularly to collaborate on the project. The group asked for feedback from students, staff, instructors, and employers and used an iterative design model to develop frameworks and a visual identity for the Student Core Competencies. Feedback was also sought from additional stakeholder groups, such as Lethbridge College Indigenous Services and technology experts. Several pilot phases were completed before the group moved to final revision and implementation phases, resulting in the Student Core Competencies as they exist today.

Student core competencies