Student portal

Search

Method-specific competencies

Knowledge and application of methods to make sense of, and operate in, any context

Each competency below provides a general definition and describes learning outcomes regarding knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Ability to break down processes and systems into parts while understanding their interaction

Knowledge Description

  • Knowledge of processes of data collection as well as of data analysis
  • Information literacy and numeracy

Skills Description

  • Ability to gather information or data to understand a problem
  • Ability to distinguish relevant from irrelevant information
  • Ability to break down a problem into basic elements
  • Ability to identify critical connections and patterns in verbal and numerical data
  • Ability to make inferences to fill gaps in information in order to continue analysis
  • Ability to draw sound conclusions based on analysis and experience

Attitudes Description

  • Be aware of limitations of own arguments and analyses and apply critical judgment in evaluating them

Ability to define a decision and a set of alternative actions from which to choose

Knowledge Description

  • Knowledge about decision-​making processes and tools
  • Knowledge of bias, risks, and evaluation techniques in decision-​making

Skills Description

  • Ability to recognise a decision-​making problem as such
  • Ability to phrase alternatives
  • Ability to evaluate alternatives and choose among them
  • Ability to make a decision also in case of incomplete information

Attitudes Description

  • Minimise bias, risks and uncertainties when making decisions
  • Be aware of the way emotions can affect the evaluation of alternatives

Ability to access, evaluate, and use media and digital technology

Knowledge Description

  • Media and digital technology literacy
  • Understanding how media and digital technologies can influence beliefs and behaviours
  • Knowledge of ethical and legal aspects surrounding the access and use of media and digital technology

Skills Description

  • Ability to apply digital technologies to research and work safely and appropriately
  • Ability to evaluate risks associated with media and digital technologies

Attitudes Description

  • Be aware of how media and digital technologies can influence beliefs and behaviours
  • Minimise risks associate with the use of media and digital technologies

Ability to define a problem and find solutions for it

Knowledge Description

  • Knowledge of techniques and processes to tackle problems
  • Knowledge of elements of both ill- and well-defined problems
  • Understanding of how diverse views can affect the problem-solving process

Skills Description

  • Ability to define a problem
  • Ability to use resources and techniques to solve a problem
  • Ability to delineate possible solutions to a problem
  • Ability to evaluate solutions and choose from among them
  • Ability to implement solutions to resolve problems

Attitudes Description

  • Recognise the critical role of persistence and be comfortable with adopting a ‘can do’ approach when tackling problems
  • Be comfortable with solving non-familiar problems

Ability to manage projects and produce results

Knowledge Description

  • Knowledge of processes, techniques and tools for effective and efficient project management

Skills Description

  • Ability to plan milestones and activities
  • Ability to prioritise among goals and activities
  • Ability to align a project with the requirements and values of own institution
  • Ability to produce results
  • Ability to choose between traditional and agile project management models and apply them appropriately

Attitudes Description

  • Be forward thinking when planning projects, milestones, and tasks
  • Be accountable for the use of resources, actions, and results
  • Think economically when developing projects
Discover how to develop your method-specific competencies

Integrating method-specific competencies

Thanks to good method-​specific competencies, you can access information from your studies and use it to make sense of a subject, work, or life. Method-​specific competencies can help you validate or integrate existing and new knowledge, organise knowledge, process it and finally use it to solve problems, make decisions or work on projects. 

What employers, ETH alumni and employees say

Allow time to make informed decisions

After my graduation, I had a gap year to explore what I wanted to do, whether to do a Ph.D. or I felt more comfortable with staying in industry. I decided that I love research as it allows us to create value for humanity ultimately, hopefully.

ETH alumnus, BSc and MSc D-​PHYS

Find and process information at ETH Zurich

We are responsible for making information available to students, for example through information events, so that they can make an informed decision about their studies. Students, in the end, are responsible for their own decision-​making.

Dr. Maddalena Velonà, Coordinator of studies D-​MAVT

Manage projects wisely

Economic thinking will be more and more important, which is managing resources efficiently, for example, when you work on a project.

HR Director, Swiss healthcare institution

 

Further readings

JavaScript has been disabled in your browser