3.3 Step 3: Build competence

The next component in an EoC is competence. Competence needs to be built within the institution to address these needs. For example, one of the needs for an incoming first year, who is unfamiliar with the concepts of academic integrity, plagiarism, and referencing, is an orientation toward the expectations and uses of academic conventions linked to these concepts  at the institution. Therefore, setting up this competence includes developing a course on academic integrity that is compulsory for all incoming first years. Another example will be to setup mechanisms of support toward restoring justice in cases of misconduct, as well as making students aware of various support structures available at different levels of the institution. If deliberate action is not taken to build competence within the institution, it would mean that the needs of an EoC are not being met. In such instances, an institution is not taking responsibility for their duty toward their students.