Welcome to the Center for Certification & Competency-Based Education (C3Be)
Our Purpose
Established in 2021, C3Be supports responsive learning systems that focus on certification, competency-based, and work-place informed learning and education. We help universities, businesses, and students better meet each other's needs through the use of learning maps, assessments, and community outreach.
Explore the Center for Certification & Competency-Based Education
Who We Serve
Learn more about the population served by C3Be and how we can support you or your business.
Ideas and Updates
Discover the Vision Behind KU’s Center for Certification and Competency-Based Education
Diane DeBacker, founding director of KU’s Center for Certification and Competency-Based Education (C3Be), shares her journey and how KU is advancing flexible, skills-focused learning.
The Paradox of Process Competencies: How to define and measure outcomes about processes
This document explores process competencies in competency-based education (CBE), focusing on skills like design thinking and problem-solving. It presents three approaches to define them: step-by-step (clear sequences), descriptive (key characteristics), and product-centered (outcome-based). Each approach has benefits and limitations in assessment. A combined approach is recommended to capture both the process and results effectively.
Cognitive Labs
Validity is everything in assessment. It means that assessment does what it says— measures what it is intended to measure, providing accurate and meaningful results. During assessment development, C3Be uses a rigorous process that promotes validity. Cognitive labs are powerful tools for finding and removing threats to an assessment’s validity.
Defining Attributes for Well-Suited Individuals for Cybersecurity – Involving Users & Stakeholders in Construct Development for More Inclusive Assessments
In a recent project, C3Be worked with EnterpriseKC to define attributes needed for success in entry-level cybersecurity occupations and develop assessments measuring these attributes. Current published definitions of employability skills have been abstracted to generic concepts, broadly applicable across many fields. They may not represent the specific contexts and needs of the cybersecurity field, nor the perspectives of the diverse range of stakeholders.