Within the academy, you can work with skills. This makes learning outcomes more transparent. We distinguish between five different levels for each skill. This article provides background information on that.
Why five skill levels?
There are various theories about the ideal number of levels for skills. We have chosen to use five levels. This is a deliberate decision. In our view, five levels provide sufficient differentiation without becoming overly complex. The considerations behind this choice were ease of use, motivation, and recognisability:
Ease of use: Five levels are easy to grasp.
Motivation: A clear path encourages employees to continue developing.
Recognisability: A sufficient number of levels allows for distinction without causing confusion.
Consistent naming for clarity
The names of the levels have been carefully chosen to ensure consistency and clarity. We avoid commonly used job titles such as junior, medior, and senior, and instead opt for objective and universal terms. This ensures that everyone speaks the same language and increases the validity of assessments. As a result, you can always reliably measure what you intend to measure, regardless of the skill in question.
Standardized explanations and levels
To ensure the same level of consistency, we keep the descriptions of the levels universal rather than varying them per skill. This allows for objective comparison and effective communication. The five levels are:
Beginner: You are starting to explore the skill and building a foundation.
Advanced: You have mastered the basics and are working on deepening your understanding.
Skilled: You experiment and critically refine your skills.
Expert: You automatically implement smart improvements thanks to extensive knowledge.
Master: The skill is fully integrated into your daily actions.