How do we prepare our students to succeed in a fast-changing world? To collaborate with people from around the globe? To create innovation as technology increasingly takes over routine work? To use advanced thinking skills in the face of more complex challenges? To show resilience in the face of constant change? These are questions educators around the world are trying to address and to determine the skills and competencies which are increasingly important for our students in the 21st century.

At Cambridge, we are working on a project to help teachers understand these skills or competencies better, and how they can be developed within English language programmes.  We developed the Cambridge Life Competencies Framework, based on a review of research that has been carried out in related areas.  We have also started work on examining the different stages of the learning journey, and how these competencies vary across each stage. Click on the images below to view the introduction booklet and the booklets for each of the 7 competencies (pdfs). 

This is an ongoing project, and we are currently in the process of further developing and validating the Framework, and its details.  If you would like to get involved in this validation activity, please complete the short form here. If you have any questions or comments on the framework, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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