Verum Academica

Academica Competence Framework

 

At Verum Academica, we are dedicated to fostering growth, skills development, and self-discovery through our comprehensive Taxonomy of Success.

 

This framework organises the essential skills for achievement into five core dimensions, encompassing 100 key competencies, and serves as the foundation for our Academica Competence Framework—a model designed to assess, support, and track students' progress effectively.

Hard Skills

 

(Foundation)

Practical and technical abilities (18 competencies)

Academic Skills

 

(Technical)

Foundational learning and critical thinking abilities (20 competencies)

Soft Skills

 

(Intrinsic)

Interpersonal and communication strengths (22 competencies)

Personal Skills

 

(Human)

Emotional intelligence and self-awareness (18 competencies)

Professional Skills

 

(Conceptual)

Leadership and strategic thinking abilities (22 competencies)

This framework helps us tailor the learning experience to each student’s unique needs while empowering them to build the competencies necessary for success in life, targeting specific areas for growth and improvement.

 

 

Our Performance Review Assessment is closely integrated with the Academica Competence Framework, allowing us to provide actionable insights into each student’s development. Through regular assessments and feedback, we evaluate students' progress across 100 competencies and adjust their learning plans as needed.

 

 

The Performance Review Assessment offers a comprehensive look at a student’s growth and performance, providing a snapshot of their strengths, opportunities for development, and overall transformation. This assessment is designed to be a tool for both students and families, offering clear guidance for areas that need attention while celebrating achievements and progress.

How It Works

Personalised Assessments:

Utilising various counselling methods, observations are made to recognise core competencies and areas for improvement.

 

 

Actionable Feedback:

Students receive actionable feedback at the end of each semester based on their performance, enabling them to make adjustments.

 

 

Collaborative Goal Setting:

Based on the assessment results, students, parents, and counsellors collaboratively set new goals for the next phase of development.

 

 

Ongoing Monitoring:

Continuous tracking of progress through one-on-one supervision sessions ensures that the learning journey remains aligned with the student’s goals.

A Continuous Journey of Competence Building

The Academica Competence Framework and Performance Review Assessment are part of an ongoing process of growth and development. As evaluations are done each semester, this framework helps ensure the student is continually improving in key life skills, preparing them not just for exams but for the future challenges they will face as adults.

The Academica Competence Framework is a central aspect of the Verum Academica methodology.

What is the Academica Competence Framework?

The Academica Competence Framework is a structured, multi-faceted approach that evaluates a student’s development in key areas critical for success in both education and beyond.

 

This framework integrates cognitive, emotional, and social skills, providing a clear understanding of a student’s strengths, areas for improvement, and overall growth trajectory.

Core Competencies in the Framework

Assessment Process

 

To measure development across these skill areas, we utilise a structured assessment process. Each competency is evaluated using a Likert Scale:

 

 

After the assessment, each skill is quantitatively scored using the Performance Review Assessment, and an overall score is calculated based on the 100 competencies. This score serves as a detailed snapshot of the student’s current abilities. 

Comparative Analysis

The assessment score is then compared to the student’s performance as reflected on their accredited academic report. This comparison provides valuable insights:

 

 

A positive correlation between the scores confirms alignment between the student’s demonstrated abilities and their academic results, showing congruency in method application.

 

A discrepancy between the scores (higher or lower) highlights areas where the academic workload may be either too challenging or too easy. This identifies potential problem areas and opportunities for growth

Our expert analysis ensures that each student’s programme is tailored to their specific needs, enabling targeted skill development and meaningful progress within the Taxonomy of Success.

 

Verum Academica's Competence Framework, particularly through its Taxonomy of Success and assessment processes, can help identify underlying patterns, behaviours, and struggles that may correlate with mental health challenges. While the framework is not a diagnostic tool, it is designed to flag areas of difficulty that might suggest the presence of certain conditions and can be used as a tool for referrals and concessions. 

 

This tool has already assisted in identifying, managing, and treating mental health conditions, including but not limited to:

 

 

 

Potential Mental Disorders Identified:

 

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Indicators: Emotional instability, difficulty maintaining relationships, impulsive behaviours, and challenges in self-awareness (Personal Skills, Human category).

 

Anxiety Disorders

Indicators: Struggles with academic performance due to overthinking, avoidance behaviours, or heightened emotional responses (Academic and Personal Skills categories).

 

Mood Disorders (Depression/Dysthymia)

Indicators: Low motivation, difficulty focusing, and withdrawal from professional or personal development tasks (crosscuts through Soft Skills, Professional Skills, and Personal Skills categories).

 

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Indicators: Difficulty with organization, time management, or task persistence (Hard Skills and Academic Skills categories).

 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Indicators: Perfectionism, repetitive behaviors, or over-focus on detail impacting overall performance (Hard and Soft Skills categories).

 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Indicators: Challenges in interpersonal communication and adaptability in soft skills or conceptual professional abilities (Soft Skills, Professional Skills categories).

 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Indicators: Regressions triggered by emotional stimuli or difficulty in maintaining personal and emotional stability (Personal Skills and Soft Skills categories).

 

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)

Indicators: Persistent emotional instability, difficulty maintaining relationships, inconsistent academic performance, hypervigilance, avoidance behaviours, and low self-worth (Personal, Soft, and Academic Skills categories).

 

Learning Disabilities (e.g., Dyslexia, Dyscalculia)

Indicators: Persistent challenges in specific academic skills such as reading, writing, or numeracy (Academic Skills category).

 

Social Anxiety or Avoidant Personality Disorder

Indicators: Difficulty engaging with others or fear of negative evaluation (Soft Skills and Personal Skills categories).

 

Emotional Dysregulation Disorders

Indicators: Inconsistent performance due to intense emotional responses to stress (Personal Skills and Soft Skills categories).

 

Dereaslisation and Depersonalise Disorders

Indicators: A persistent or recurring sense of detachment from one’s surroundings or self, often described as feeling unreal, dreamlike, or disconnected, despite awareness of reality (Academic, Soft, Personal, and Professional categories).

 

How the Framework Identifies These:

 

 

 

Behavioural Patterns:

The Likert Scale assessment can reveal significant regressions or consistent struggles in specific competencies, such as interpersonal relationships, organisation, or emotional self-regulation.

 

Skill Imbalances:

Discrepancies between the assessment score and the accredited academic report can highlight underlying stressors or mismatched capacities that often correlate with mental health challenges.

 

Qualitative Insights:

Through hands-on interaction and one-on-one guidance with someone who is qualified in screening techniques, additional qualitative data may emerge, further informing potential mental health concerns.

 

Follow-Up Approach:

When flagged, these findings may lead to a recommendation for further evaluation by an appropriately qualified mental health professionals, ensuring students receive appropriate support beyond skill development.

 

 

 

 

By evaluating a student’s performance across the Taxonomy of Success, the framework may identify underlying difficulties such as:

 

  • Persistent regressions or inconsistencies in emotional self-regulation, interpersonal interactions, or task persistence.
  • Discrepancies between assessment scores and academic reports, indicating mismatched workload difficulty, unaddressed stressors, or a misalignment with subject choice.
  • Behavioural patterns that align with challenges like anxiety, ADHD, or emotional dysregulation.

 

 

 

 

When such patterns emerge, Verum Academica’s expert interpretation provides insights to better understand the student’s needs. If mental health concerns are suspected, we may recommend follow-up evaluations by licensed professionals to ensure the student receives appropriate support.

Link to Performance Review and Assessment

Our Performance Review Assessment is closely integrated with the Academica Competence Framework, allowing us to provide actionable insights into each student’s development. Through regular assessments and feedback, we evaluate students' progress across these competencies and adjust their learning plans as needed.

 

The Performance Review Assessment offers a comprehensive look at a student’s growth and performance, providing a snapshot of their strengths, opportunities for development, and overall transformation. This assessment is designed to be a tool for both students, families, and mental health workers offering clear guidance for areas that need attention while celebrating achievements and progress.