Polytechnic education has contributed greatly to the development process of Ghana. The various programs offered at the polytechnic level require students to collect data and analyze field data for effective decision making. Polytechnic students need to be well-equipped with specific knowledge, skills and abilities that will allow them to undertake quality applied research. However, there are questions concerning what precisely are those competencies, when are these competencies best employed, and what contextual factors need to be taken into account when carrying out the research. This innovative methodology to competency modeling, designated vigilance-based core competency and qualities (VQC) framework, attaches a level of keenness to the competency description. The framework is aimed at providing guidance for future Higher National Diploma (HND) student researchers as well as their mentors regarding the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours required for carrying out quality project work. The study made use of the qualitative paradigm involving focus group discussions and interviews with 50 final year students to identify 30 critical competencies, grouped under three thematic categories, namely intrapersonal, interpersonal and intellectual. Nine (9) critical factors were established that could affect the student researcher while carrying out the project work. The current research concluded that no matter how proficient the student researcher is, competencies are not kept at an elevated vigilance level in all stages of the project work. Competencies vary based on the need in the related research activities, attaining their peak levels at particular stages and declining markedly to idle at others. Contextual factors may play a helpful role in regulating the vigilance level of a certain competency or they may have a damaging or watering down effect. This study recommends that it is not only imperative to have the appropriate competencies but to apply the appropriate knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviours and abilities at the right time to carry out a quality scientific project work. Keywords: core competencies, quality project work, VQC framework, polytechnic education, Ghana
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