Competency-Based Training and Assessment

Pakistan AI Centers of Excellence (Pak AI CoE) is being designed around a competency-based approach to AI skills: what learners can actually do in real environments, not just what they have "covered" in a syllabus. Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A) provides the natural backbone for that vision.

While Pak AI CoE is still a concept framework and not yet approved or accredited by any authority, its design is informed by CBT&A principles widely used in modern TVET and skills systems.

What CBT&A Means in the AI Context

CBT&A organizes learning around clearly defined, observable competencies. In the AI and data space, this means outcomes such as:

Preparing and cleaning real datasets for analysis
Training, evaluating, and deploying basic machine learning models
Building and testing simple computer vision or NLP pipelines
Using cloud and GPU tools safely and effectively
Working in teams on applied AI projects tied to real business or public-sector needs

Instead of focusing primarily on lectures or time spent in class, CBT&A focuses on whether the learner can demonstrate these skills against transparent criteria.

How CBT&A Informs Pak AI CoE Design

Pak AI CoE's concept framework uses CBT&A principles to shape:

AI technician, analyst, and associate engineer role profiles
Modular units of competence that can be combined at different levels
Assessment tasks based on actual AI problems and datasets
Clear performance standards for "competent" vs. "not yet competent"

The intention is that each AI qualification pathway can be broken into discrete, validated competency units that employers recognize and that learners can stack over time.

Relationship to National Frameworks

The CBT&A approach at Pak AI CoE is being designed with reference to:

The National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) Regulations
NAVTTC guidance on competency-based training and assessment

However, Pak AI CoE is currently only a concept and has not been approved, accredited, or formally adopted by NAVTTC or any other governmental body. Any future use of CBT&A within an official NVQF or NAVTTC context would require formal review and approval.

Why CBT&A Matters for AI Skills

For employers, CBT&A-based AI training should lead to:

Graduates who can work on real systems and real data from day one
Clear signals about what a "Level 2 technician" or "Level 4 associate" can actually do
Easier integration of AI roles into existing TVET and workforce structures

For learners, CBT&A means:

Transparent expectations and assessment standards
The ability to build skills in stages and demonstrate them in practical ways
A more direct line between training, employability, and career progression

Disclaimer

Pak AI CoE is currently a concept proposal and design framework. Its use of CBT&A is at the design stage only and has not been formally reviewed, approved, or accredited by NAVTTC or any other governmental authority. Any future implementation under official CBT&A or NVQF mechanisms will be subject to the relevant regulatory and approval processes.