Students as partners. Promoting competency-based education using design thinking
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Authors
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2026
Type of student thesis
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Collections
Type
04B - Conference paper
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Parent work
12th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd)
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DOI of the original publication
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Series
Series number
Volume
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
179-187
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Publisher / Publishing institution
Place of publication / Event location
Valencia
Edition
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Practice partner / Client
Abstract
Competency-based education (CBE) redefines the role of students from passive recipients of knowledge to active, self-directed learners. One approach embracing this is Students as Partners (SaP). The FHNW and its School of Business is committed to CBE and developed a new competency model collaboratively with lecturers and external stakeholders, students however, an essential stakeholder group in CBE, were not adequately involved. This mixed-methods study combined a student survey (N=373) and a design thinking process with 16 students to explore how CBE can be better understood and implemented at the School of Business from a students’ perspective. While the survey revealed low prior awareness and limited engagement with CBE, the design sprint enabled students to co-create effective prototypes to improve communication, understanding, and implementation of the competency model and CBE. The results highlight the importance of meaningful student involvement and demonstrate that participatory approaches can generate actionable solutions and strengthen organisational learning.
Keywords
Subject (DDC)
Event
12th International Conference on Higher Education Advances
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
15.06.2026
Conference end date
18.06.2026
Date of the last check
ISBN
ISSN
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
peer-reviewed
Open access category
Diamond
License
Citation
Mücke, A. (2026). Students as partners. Promoting competency-based education using design thinking. 12th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd), 179–187. https://doi.org/10.4995/head26.2026.21325