Introducing Competency Models as a Tool for Holistic Competency Development in Learning Factories: Challenges, Example and Future Application

Learning factories, which foster practically oriented teaching-concepts, offer excellent opportunities to develop students' competencies in self-controlled learning processes based on competency models. To evaluate these competencies, the aim of this paper was to establish a competency model for students working with a learning factory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with lecturers and students who had experiences working with the learning factory. The recorded interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analyses with MAXQDA to identify the crucial competencies students develop when working with the learning factory. The applied coding scheme was built deductively based on literature of learning factories and competencies. Overall, twelve competencies were identified (e.g. Applying Knowledge) which can further be assigned to the three main clusters professional/methodological, social and personal competencies. The distribution of competencies in professional/methodological and social and personal competencies was even. These results support the opportunities learning factories offer for higher education competency development of professional as well as social skills. Furthermore, results provide the opportunity to establish and adapt competency-based teaching concepts in higher education and organizations.