Improving systems engineering curriculum using a competency-based assessment approach

This paper summarises the use of a competency-based approach to assess our university's systems engineering curriculum. Our team selected and validated a systems engineering competency model developed from within the space industry to perform an assessment of our core systems engineering courses. Next, we assessed the level to which a student successfully completing our programme, could potentially 'apply', with minimal guidance, those systems engineering capabilities we defined as critical. We identified the gaps or opportunity areas for improvement in our curriculum and based on these gaps, we developed an initial set of actions for improving our core systems engineering curriculum.