This paper explores the potential of Eye Movement Miscue Analysis (EMMA) as a method to evaluate the complexity of picturebooks as reading material for primary school children. While EMMA has been applied to examine reading processes and strategies, this paper reports on the first study using EMMA to examine classroom picturebook complexity and its implications for developing readers. This research found EMMA method revealed specific nuances for understanding children’s reading practices in response to the complexity of the text at hand. Drawing together an internationally established reading teaching resource, the text complexity guide (Pinnell & Fountas, 2007) with miscue analysis reading assessment and eye movement technology, this research sought to gain insights into potential areas of complexity or challenge in picturebooks commonly available in Australian school libraries and classrooms. The method shared here examines text complexity ratings, children’s reading performance, and eye movements, as they read in natural classroom settings. Analysis of children’s reading miscues revealed that readers encountered challenges not anticipated through the use of the text complexity guide. Argued in this paper is that EMMA methodologies could extend understandings about text complexity beyond established frameworks and hence guide future assessments.

This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive core competency assessment instrument specifically designed for undergraduate students at a research-focused university. Despite growing emphasis on competency-based education (CBE), there are limited psychometrically sound tools tailored to evaluate students’ level of core competencies in research-intensive universities. The current study proceeded in three phases: (a) development of a conceptual framework comprising six core competencies: Integrated Thinking, Knowledge Inquiry, Creative Integration, Global Citizenship, Communication & Collaboration, and Self-Management; (b) item generation and expert validation; and (c) validation through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The final instrument included 77 items across the six competencies. CFA confirmed adequate model fit (CFI = .934–.957; RMSEA = .057–.088). The results showed that the validated instrument can provide a reliable and comprehensive assessment for students' core competencies in research-oriented university settings. This instrument can provide guidelines for developing competency-based education (CBE) curricula in higher education, as well as criteria for evaluating and refining existing CBE programs. This instrument functions as both a psychometrically robust assessment tool and a practical guide for institutional enhancement. It enables precise measurement of students’ core competencies, offering evidence that can inform curriculum design, academic advising, and policy development. In addition, the validated framework lays a strong groundwork for future research to investigate the long-term effects of competency-based education on student achievement, career readiness, and personal development across various higher education settings.