Competency-based Curriculum: A New Approach to Curricular Change

Abstract

After the pandemic, education in Ecuador needed to align the curriculum with 21st-century skills and technological advances that occur in a global world. This adjustment must ensure that students acquire not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills and essential competencies to thrive in a digitalized and interconnected world. The aim of this article is to justify why a competency-based curricular change is necessary, adopting a new educational paradigm. This article is based on theoretical research using the document review technique. The findings suggest a change to a new curricular structure that overcomes the existing gaps between academic education and the competencies required in the current labor market, promoting an education that integrates practical skills with advanced theory, preparing students to face the challenges of a technologically advanced and competitive work environment. The need to review and update the national curriculum is emphasized to foster an education that is truly relevant and applicable in the future professional context.