Competence Framework
The ETH Competence Framework is a compilation of the competencies that ETH Zurich aims to foster. This compilation was derived from a review of literature and competence frameworks and from interviews with Swiss employers from different economic sectors as well as with educational and career experts. The framework consists of twenty competencies, which were grouped into four domains, representing distinct areas of application.
The goal is to promote a common language about competen-cies among instructors, students, and future employers. The Competence Framework is for guiding and inspiring the personal and professional development of students and the work of teaching staff members at ETH Zurich.
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of terminologies, techniques, and technologies in own field
- Knowledge of research methods in use in own field
Skills:
- Ability to apply techniques, technologies, and research methods effectively and efficiently
- Ability to use terminologies properly
Attitudes:
- Value and strive for excellence and rigor in own field
Knowledge:
- Theoretical knowledge of relevant phenomena and problems in own field
- Understanding of linkages between own field and other fields, and society
Skills:
- Ability to apply theories properly to understand phenomena and problems
- Ability to make linkages between own field and other fields, and society
- Ability to seek and manage information
Attitudes:
- Believe in the worth of own work or field and stay informed of new developments
- Be open to other fields as an opportunity to gain a global outlook
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of processes of data collection as well as of data analysis
- Information literacy and numeracy
Skills:
- Ability to gather information or data to understand
a problem - Ability to distinguish relevant from irrelevant information
- Ability to break down a problem into basic elements
- Ability to identify critical connections and patterns inverbal and numerical data
- Ability to make inferences to fill gaps in information in order to continue analysis
- Ability to draw sound con-clusions based on analysis and experience
Attitudes:
- Be aware of limitations of own arguments and analyses and apply critical judgment in evaluating them
Knowledge:
- Knowledge about decision-making processes and tools
- Knowledge of bias, risks, and evaluation techniques in decision-making
Skills:
- Ability to recognise a decision-making problem as such
- Ability to phrase alternatives
- Ability to evaluate alternatives and choose among them
- Ability to make a decision also in case of incomplete information
Attitudes:
- Minimise bias, risks and uncertainties when making decisions
- Be aware of the way emotions can affect the evaluation of alternatives
Knowledge:
- Media and digital technology literacy
- Understanding how media and digital technologies can influence beliefs and behaviours
- Knowledge of ethical and legal aspects surrounding the access and use of media and digital technology
Skills:
- Ability to apply digital technologies to research and work safely and
appropriately - Ability to evaluate risks associated with media and digital technologies
Attitudes:
- Be aware of how media and digital technologies can influence beliefs and behaviours
- Minimise risks associate with the use of media and digital technologies
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of techniques and processes to tackle problems
- Knowledge of elements of both ill- and well-defined problems
- Understanding of how diverse views can affect the problem-solving process
Skills:
- Ability to define a problem
- Ability to use resources and techniques to solve a problem
- Ability to delineate possible solutions to a problem
- Ability to evaluate solutions and choose from among them
- Ability to implement solutions to resolve problems
Attitudes:
- Recognise the critical role of persistence and be comfortable with adopting a ‘can do’ approach when tackling problems
- Be comfortable with solving non-familiar problems
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of processes, techniques and tools for effective and efficient project management
Skills:
- Ability to plan milestones and activities
- Ability to prioritise among goals and activities
- Ability to align a project with the requirements and values of own institution
- Ability to produce results
- Ability to choose between traditional and agile project management models and apply them appropriately
Attitudes:
- Be forward thinking when planning projects, milestones, and tasks
- Be accountable for the use of resources, actions, and results
- Think economically when developing projects
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of terminology, language register, and foreign language/s to communicate with different target audiences
- Knowledge of various visual aids and multi-media tools
- Knowledge of non-verbal communication for effective communication
Skills:
- Ability to articulate thoughts and ideas in own and foreign language/s
- Ability to use oral, written, and non-verbal communication effectively and efficiently
- Ability to adjust communication to different contexts
- Ability to identify and use visual aids and multimedia tools for effective communication
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of group dynamics and processes for empowering effective collaboration and positive team atmosphere
Skills:
- Ability to build networks and collaborative relation-ships with others
- Ability to coordinate and co-produce outputs
- Ability to exchange feedback with others constructively
- Ability to empower positive team environment and effective collaboration
Attitudes:
- See potential in working with others
- Be flexible in taking on different roles within a team
- Value honesty and give credit to others for their achievements
- Share responsibility for team results
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of approaches and techniques for identifying the needs of others and society
Skills:
- Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with others and society
- Ability to empathise with others to understand others’ needs
Attitudes:
- Believe in the value of helping others by adopting a customer-orientation attitude at work and in society
- Show compassion for others and society and strive to address societal and environmental challenges
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of different leadership styles and when to apply them
Skills:
- Ability to guide others in achieving their own or common goals
- Ability to adopt different leadership styles as needed and wisely
- Ability to delegate responsibilities to others
Attitudes:
- Motivate and inspire others
- Strive for the well-being of others
- Give credit to others for their achievements
- Recognise the importance of leadership and be comfortable with taking the lead
- Act decisively on behalf of others and lead responsibly
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of professional behaviour
- Knowledge of rules, policies and etiquette of own institution
Skills:
- Ability to express and promote a genuine and professional image of oneself by sharing own vision, values and interests
- Ability to interpret others’ perceptions of one’s behaviour
- Ability to express own emotions and feelings clearly to generate enthu-siasm and motivation in others
Attitudes:
- Accept vulnerability by being willing to express also own feelings and interests to others
- Have and display a positive attitude through positive language, enthusi-asm, and expressions of gratitude
Knowledge:
- Awareness of diversity
- Knowledge of the impact and potential of diversity
- Understanding of biases due to diversity and their effects on interpersonal interactions
Skills:
- Ability to recognise biases
- Ability to work effectively with diverse people and teams
Attitudes:
- Be open to and respect diversity in all its forms
- Be open and motivated to embrace international or interdisciplinary experience
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of negotiation strategies including mediation, compromising, and bargaining
Skills:
- Ability to compromise, mediate andbargain
- Ability to prevent, manage, and eventually solve conflicts
Attitudes:
- Keep an open mind when advocating positions, not taking differences of opinions personally
- Be able to put oneself in others’shoes
- Be rational when evaluating others’ positions and avoid premature evaluations
- Represent and synthesise the best ideas from all viewpoints
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of sources of ambiguity and change and their impact on different environments and contexts
Skills:
- Ability to adapt to different roles, responsibilities, and contexts
- Ability to change priorities and direction if necessary
Attitudes:
- Be open to criticism and setbacks
- See ambiguity and change as an opportunity to learn
- Be willing to move forward despite ambiguity
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of idea-creation techniques
and processes
Skills:
- Ability to apply idea-creation techniques to generate new and potentially useful ideas
- Ability to elaborate, refine, analyse, and test own ideas in order to improve and maximise creative efforts
- Ability to convert ideas into action plans and projects at work or in own field
- Ability to act on new ideas to make useful contributions to economy, research, and society
Attitudes:
- Be open to new and diverse perspectives
- Be creative and inventive when developing potentially new and useful ideas
- See change as an opportunity to experiment and explore
- Think outside the box and adopt a fail-forward attitude
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of techniques to describe the structure of an argument
- Knowledge of how to formulate an argument
Skills:
- Ability to identify key problems
- Ability to adopt systems thinking
- Ability to synthesise information from a variety of resources
- Ability to evaluate sources by drawing inferences and questioning assumptions
- Ability to formulate own arguments and question assumptions
- Ability to analyse alternatives and anticipate outcomes
- Ability to provide sound recommendations
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of standards of good practice in the institution and discipline
- Understanding of the effects of volatility, ambiguity, and complexity on practices in the institution and discipline
Skills:
- Ability to remain honest and respectful in volatile, uncertain,
ambiguous, and complex situations - Ability to take responsibility and act decisively both in normal and volatile, uncertain, ambiguous, and complex situations
Attitudes:
- Value transparency, honesty and work ethics and apply them in relationships and own work
- Admit faults and seek guidance as necessary
- Be open-minded, objective, and accountable for own actions
- Be reliable and trustworthy
Knowledge:
- Awareness of oneself, own interests, and needs
- Knowledge of techniques to assess own strengths and weaknesses
Skills:
- Ability to identify own development needs
- Ability to recognize and implement opportunities for lifelong learning
- Ability to learn both from others and autonomously
Attitudes:
- Have confidence in oneself
- Feel ownership of, and be committed to, own professional development and lifelong learning
- Reflect on own achievements and experience
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of techniques to set personal goals with successcriteria
- Awareness of the effects of pressures and distractions on own work and worklife balance
Skills:
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to manage time effectively and independently
- Ability to prioritise among multiple projects, tasks, and duties
- Ability to manage pressures, distractions and stress
- Ability to maintain a good work-life balance
Attitudes:
- Be passionate about and proud of own work
- Maintain motivation to work
- Avoid undue pressures and enhance personalwell-being
- Have confidence in own expertise and feel comfortable working independently