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Learning outcomes

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Learning outcomes are the knowledge, skills and social competences acquired through learning in the broadest sense – not only at school or university, but also through work and a range of other activities.

The learning outcomes specified in a qualification description define:

  • knowledge – what a person needs to know and understand,
  • skills – what a person needs to be able to do, and
  • social competences – what responsibilities a person needs to be prepared to take on in order to obtain a given qualification.

In theory, learning outcomes are divided into three categories. In practice, however, a person’s knowledge always includes an element of skill, skills involve elements of knowledge, and social competences are based on a combination of knowledge and skills.

In qualification descriptions, individual learning outcomes may be specific to a particular qualification or more universal, for example relating to general occupational competences.