Regular Assessment of Program Learning Outcomes

An academic program aims to develop students’ competencies, which are a complex combination of knowledge, abilities, and attitudes appropriate to a given situation. 

The assessment aims to measure the extent to which students have achieved or mastered these competencies. It is part of the program review process and addresses essential dimensions of its quality with the goal of improving them. 

This assessment is required for all undergraduate and master's programs, including those accredited or evaluated by an agency that does not require a competency-based assessment. 

An assessment cycle must be conducted at least once every three years. This cycle consists of three phases: the assessment itself, the drafting of an improvement plan, and the implementation of the decided improvements. 

For the assessment to proceed, it is imperative to define measurable Performance Indicators (PIs) for each competency, i.e. Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs). 

The evaluation methods and general rules to follow are specified in the Competency Assessment Policy. At the end of an evaluation cycle, an Competency Assessment Report is drafted. A template is provided to facilitate its preparation. A Guide has been developed to support institutions in this assessment.