Effectiveness of Competency-based Training in Improving the Scientific Writing Skills of Students in Higher Education

Scientific writing skill is one of many competencies that must be possessed by postgraduate students to complete their studies. In fact, many students faced difficulties in expressing their thoughts in academic writing to meet the standards of scientific papers. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of competency-based training in improving the scientific writing skills of students in higher education. The study used a mixed methods approach involving 43 Master's students as research subjects. Data were collected through qualitative techniques (observation, interviews, and document analysis) and quantitative techniques (pretest, posttest, and questionnaire). Data analysis was conducted descriptively in quantitative and qualitative approaches by comparing the results of writing skills before and after the training. The results showed that the Competency-Based Training model successfully improved the ability of students in the Master of Educational Administration Study Program in writing academic papers, especially scientific journal articles, either in terms of writing systematics, use of methods, or academic style. These findings indicate that competency-based training can be an effective strategy in equipping master’s Program students to improve academic writing skills. Therefore, it is recommended that such training be implemented continuously and integrated into higher education programs.