Open Competency Network Competency Explainer

For this Network, “competency” is broadly defined to include assertions of academic, professional, occupational, vocational and life goals, outcomes, and standards, however labeled such as knowledge, skills and abilities, capabilities, habits of mind, or habits of practice. Competencies are measurable or observable and necessary to successful performance of a person whether in learning or working contexts in public, private, or military sectors.

Examples of the ways in which competencies are referenced by various communities of practice include, but are not limited, to the following:

• academic learning standards
• benchmarks
• competency frameworks
• learning objectives
• performance objectives
• rich skill descriptors
• skill collections