Transversal competency-based curriculum improvement: practical experiences within the AEP Pathway

Abstract

The Autonomy and Professional Success Pathway (AEP) at the Technological University of Bolívar (UTB) is conceived as an institutional training trajectory designed to provide comprehensive support to on-campus undergraduate students in developing competencies for personal growth, academic performance, and professional projection. Within the framework of this work, the Pathway is characterized as a progressive structure that accompanies students from admission through graduation, integrating curricular courses, complementary activities, and practical experiences organized according to the competencies or skills to be developed. The Pathway is organized around four success enablers, or structuring axes: Core Skills, Power Skills, UTB Leaders, and Professional Connections. Together, these dimensions complement disciplinary training and strengthen socio-emotional, communication, digital, intercultural, financial, and leadership skills, supporting a relevant transition into the labor market. It also describes the institutional recognition mechanism for students who complete the Pathway through Basic Badges (mandatory) and Plus Badges (voluntary), including the achievement condition (four basic badges, one per enabler) and the highest recognition (eight badges: four basic and four plus). Finally, it presents the guidelines for follow-up, monitoring, evaluation, and certification of completion as a requirement for concluding the training process.