Competency-Based Education in Ethiopia’s Higher Education: Policy Directions and Reform Imperatives

Competency-Based Education (CBE) has emerged globally as a transformative approach that shifts focus from traditional, time-based instruction to mastery of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in the labor market and society. Ethiopia's higher education system, while expanding rapidly, faces significant challenges in quality, relevance, and graduate employability. This policy brief explores how the adoption of CBE could address these issues and transform Ethiopian higher education into a more responsive and efficient system. Drawing on global experiences, the brief identifies core challenges, analyses Ethiopia’s current context, and recommends actionable policy directions for implementing CBE in universities and colleges.