What is Competency-Based Education (CBE)?

Competency-based education is a learning approach that measures learning based on a student’s demonstration of understanding and skills – rather than based on time spent in class and achieving a passing grade on assignments. Students demonstrate their mastery of topics through projects and presentations, then move on to the next topic. Each new competency adds to the previous ones allowing for a self-paced building of mastery. If a student can demonstrate mastery of a competency based on previous schooling or work experience, then they are able to move on even more quickly.

Along the way, students build a portfolio of projects that demonstrate their competence and work-ready knowledge. In addition, in a CBE model, faculty become coaches rather than lecturers. They are there to clarify, assist, and give feedback. CBE is simply a different way of learning that is controlled by the student.

At LAPU, Ascend is that pathway.