What are they?
Lethbridge Polytechnic has long championed student development, now encapsulated in our Student Core Competencies. Previously known as 21st-Century Skills and Institutional-Wide Outcomes, these competencies include a range of essential life, professional and employment skills. While students naturally develop these skills during their studies, core competencies extend beyond specific subjects and are crucial to their overall success. This development happens both inside and outside the classroom, enhancing students’ academic and professional journeys.
Why do they matter?
Student Core Competencies are crucial for academic and post-graduation success; though not presently quantified, they are vital for employment and personal growth. Lethbridge Polytechnic’s integration of these competencies aids students in skill development and communication with employers.
Each core competency is divided into three levels:
- Involved students know the indicator or the criteria for demonstrating it. They can talk about it, write about it, describe it or explain it.
- Engaged students can perform or demonstrate the indicator or criteria; that is, they can do it.
- Leading students are innovating, extending, transforming, showing initiative, integrating or collaborating.
Blackfoot connection
The SCCs were made in partnership with Indigenous Services—listen to how each image connects the SCC to the Blackfoot ways of knowing.
Learn more about each competency.
Each core competency is divided into three levels to support your growth and learning.
Innovation
Blends experimentation, risk-taking and entrepreneurial spirit to address challenges and create novel solutions.
Problem Solving
Requires applying the necessary skills, attitudes and behaviours to generate and implement ideas for addressing needs or challenges.
Global Citizenship
Involves actively engaging with diverse cultural, environmental, political and economic systems while considering Indigenous and global perspectives.
Critical Thinking
Includes effectively applying skills, attitudes and behaviours to research, organize, evaluate and utilize information from various digital and non-digital sources.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Involves building collaborative relationships, products and services with diverse individuals while also managing conflict and working within team structures.
Communication
Includes processing and conveying information through various means and styles as well as demonstrating respect, responsibility and empathy in interactions with others.
Career and Personal Development
Encompasses setting and achieving academic and personal goals, leveraging personal strengths and employing self-reflection and goal-setting to foster growth and achievement.