Nov 04, 2014 12:12 PM EST By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of Texas System on Monday announced a plan to launch a personalized, competency-based education program system-wide.

The program will be aimed at learners from high school through post-graduate studies. What sets the University of Texas System's approach apart from other competency-based programs is a focus on offering personalized and adaptive degrees and certificates that are industry-aligned and - via technology developed by the University of Texas System -- can systematically improve success, access and completion rates in areas of high employment demand.

"Competency-based programs allow students to advance through courses, certifications and degrees based on their ability to master knowledge and skills rather than time spent in a classroom," Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa said in a statement. "All students are held to clearly defined and rigorous expectations, but each follows a customized path to success that responds and adapts based on individual learning strengths, challenges and goals. And students can earn credit for prior learning and move at their own speed."

The system's competency-based initiative is being developed by its Institute for Transformational Learning in partnership with UT institutions and top faculty experts. Established by the UT System Board of Regents in 2012 and funded with $50 million, the Institute for Transformational Learning's mandate is to drive student success and access through the innovative use of technology.

"We are developing a new model of education that provides an alternative and potentially accelerated pathway to a [University of Texas-quality] degree," Marni Baker Stein, chief innovation officer for the Institute of Transformational Learning, said in a statement. "Our degree and certificate programs are designed to build on critical skill sets so that students achieve enduring mastery that better prepares them for the workplace of the future."

The first competency-based programs will launch in the fall of 2015 and will offer STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and medical sciences courses.

The programs will be offered in flexible online and hybrid formats and will be available to students as early as high school.

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