Competency-Based Training in Fashion Design Education: Graduate Competencies and Job Performance

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-527-0_5How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Competencies; Training; Human Capital; Fashion and Textiles; Technical skills; Soft skills; Job Performance

Abstract

Reforms in Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) have improved Competency-Based Training (CBT) to align graduates’ skills with industry demands. In this context, Accra Technical University (ATU) restructured its fashion design and textiles programme, initiated in 2004 and re-evaluated several times to emphasize practical skill acquisition and industrial relevance. However, a gap remains in literature regarding industry performance of CBT fashion and textile graduates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the competencies acquired by CBT-trained graduates and their impact on job performance in industry. A qualitative case study was conducted with 13 graduates (2010–2016 cohorts and 5 employers) and thematically analyzed using NVivo 12. Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory, McClelland's competency theory, and Becker's Human Capital Theory informed the analysis. The findings revealed that CBT graduates possess strong technical skills (e.g., garment construction, pattern making, sewing, equipment troubleshooting) and well-developed generic competencies (e.g., teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication). Self-efficacy emerged as a key mediator in leveraging competencies into workplace contributions like job creation, apprentice monitoring, design and production innovation, and high-quality standards with minimal formal training after graduation. These outcomes demonstrated that CBT, anchored in competency, self-efficacy, and human capital, enables graduates to achieve personal success and societal growth. The study concluded that CBT improves the synergy between skill acquisition, confidence, and economic productivity, making graduates key drivers of industrial innovation and human capital development.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Adu Catherine
AU  - Biney-Aidoo Vivian
AU  - Okai-Mensah Christiana
AU  - Adu Akwaboah Desmond
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/24
TI  - Competency-Based Training in Fashion Design Education: Graduate Competencies and Job Performance
BT  - Proceedings of the International Conference on Applied Arts, Design, and Sustainability (ICAADS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 66
EP  - 89
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-527-0_5
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-527-0_5
ID  - Catherine2025
ER  -