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What sort of person is a graduate of UNE?

The University of New England's goal is to ensure that its graduates will be able to demonstrate a command of a significant body of knowledge of sufficient depth, to demonstrate an understanding of one or many disciplines or professional areas; to apply that knowledge in a range of circumstances; and to recognize the social and historical context of that knowledge within those disciplines or professional areas. However, when you graduate you will move into a world of constant change with strong competition for employment. This world will require you to adapt personally and professionally, to grow, to change and to contribute to the development of a better future for yourself, your profession and your community. These may even be the reasons some of you decided to study externally. The University of New England takes seriously its commitment to prepare you for this world of change. In the context of the learning experiences at UNE, graduates will be expected to have developed a range of attributes that will enable you to meet the challenges that come your way. The Attributes of a UNE Graduate is a statement of what UNE considers important for its students. These attributes are:
  1. Knowledge of a discipline
  2. Communication skills
  3. Global Perspective
  4. Information Literacy
  5. Lifelong Learning
  6. Problem Solving
  7. Social Responsibility
  8. Teamwork.
Different disciplines will emphasize different skills and may introduce additional attributes.

Why are they important to me?


Reports of what employers require of graduates emphasize the need for well-developed generic skills as well as discipline-specific content. Employers look to a university degree as the basic requirement but then distinguish the most employable graduates by their generic skills—such as communication, teamwork and problem solving.

Graduate attributes provide you with a useful framework for describing the knowledge, skills, abilities and personal qualities that you develop through your course and from your other life experiences. This framework can be used to produce a portfolio that will be invaluable when you apply for jobs. In it you can set out your academic achievements in terms of knowledge, and also the other qualities that you, as a graduate of the University of New England, bring to a workplace. These qualities will also be important in other parts of your life, e.g. as a citizen and family member.

How will I acquire these attributes?


In the context of the learning experiences within your course you will be exposed to opportunities to learn certain skills (e.g. teamwork and problem-based learning) and to practise these skills in relevant situations. You will be provided with criteria to judge how you are going and you will be formally assessed on your abilities. Keep a record of progress in your reflection guide or portfolio. This will assist you to make your own assessment of your abilities, and perhaps to take some extra action of your own to help you acquire the attributes that are important to you. Skills and attributes developed in extra-curricula activities, as well as any courses you take in addition to your UNE study, can be included too.

How do I record this information?


An electronic template allows you to record a range of information, including graduate attributes, for later use when you apply for a job. For example, you may have participated in the New England Award or worked part-time while at UNE. This information can be recorded along with official assessment results of your formal study. You may want to file examples of work that demonstrate the quality of your skill (e.g. a team project report, awards, etc).

Portfolio/reflection guide

What exactly do the graduate attributes mean?


Each course is likely to have its own particular criteria or standard of achievement for attributes. Professional competencies for your field of study will also be included. The descriptions below are not exhaustive. Not all will appear in all units, but over your entire course you will be exposed to all attributes and have an opportunity to demonstrate your level of ability through assessment.

Attribute 1: Knowledge of a discipline


Mastering a body of discipline-specific knowledge is the keystone of your university degree. In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • demonstrate a command of a significant body of knowledge based on the highest standards of academic scholarship
    • apply knowledge at an advanced level in professional contexts or to solve problems
    • demonstrate awareness of the historical development of the discipline and its methods
    • recognise the relationship between the practice of the discipline in Australia and its practice in other countries.

Graduates of research degrees will 'extend the boundaries of knowledge through research and publication'.

Attribute 2: Communication skills


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • communicate effectively and confidently orally and in written forms
    • use numerical, graphical, visual and statistical forms of communication competently where applicable
    • appreciate the diversity of communication styles employed by individuals from different national and cultural backgrounds
    • use the medium and form of communication (including electronic) appropriate for a given situation
    • present well reasoned arguments.

Research graduates will 'challenge existing theories and defend new ideas and theories in various modes for a variety of audiences, especially professional audiences, using the scholarly conventions of the discipline'.

Attribute 3: Global perspective


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    •demonstrate an awareness of the global context of your discipline and professional area
    •function in a multicultural or global context.

Attribute 4: Information literacy


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • recognise the need for information and the nature and extent of information needed
    • find information effectively and efficiently
    • critically evaluate information and the search process
    • manage information collected or generated
    • use information to construct new concepts or create new understandings
    • use information with understanding and acknowledge cultural, ethical, economic, legal and social issues surrounding its use
    • acquire, organise and present information using technology.
Research graduates will 'demonstrate an understanding of relevant research methodologies and techniques and their appropriate application within their research field nationally and globally'.

Attribute 5: Lifelong learning


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • reflect on limitations of, and have the capacity to evaluate, their current knowledge
    • identify, evaluate and implement personal learning strategies for lifelong personal and professional development
    • practice intellectual curiosity, creativity and critical thinking
    • learn both independently and co-operatively
    • learn new skills and apply learning to new and unexpected situations
    • recognise opportunities for further learning in both familiar and unfamiliar national or cultural settings.
Research graduates will 'demonstrate an insight into the transferable nature of research skills to other work environments'.

Attribute 6: Problem solving


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • apply logical, critical and creative thinking to a range of problems
    • identify critical issues in the discipline or professional area
    • conceptualise problems and formulate a range of solutions that are appropriate to the national or cultural context of the problem
    • collect, collate and analyse relevant information to assist problem-solving.
Research graduates will 'apply effective project management through the setting of research goals, milestones and prioritisation of activities'.

Attribute 7: Social responsibility


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • demonstrate ethical action and social responsibility in your personal, professional and community lives
    • demonstrate respect for, and acknowledgement of, ideas and knowledge of others
    • acknowledge the social and ethical implications of your actions
    • appreciate the impact of social change
    • recognise social justice issues relevant to your discipline and professional area
    • understand the international implications of local decisions and the local implications of international decisions
    • appreciate the importance of sustainable development
    • appreciate Indigenous culture and history
    • identify occupational risk and apply duty of care principles.
Research graduates will demonstrate awareness of issues relating to rights of other researchers, of research subjects, and others who may be affected by the research'.

Attribute 8: Teamwork


In general terms this means as a graduate you will be able to:

    • work collaboratively and network effectively to achieve common goals and to solve problems
    • appreciate the different approaches that different cultures have to collaborative work
    • take responsibility and carry out agreed tasks.
    • take initiative and lead others
    • operate in a range of supportive roles within teams
    • negotiate, assert your own values and respect the values and contributions of others
    • evaluate team performance.
Research graduates will 'develop and maintain co-operative networks and working relationships with supervisors, colleagues and peers, within the institution and the wider research community'.

Assessment


Assessment of your attainment of graduate attributes will usually be part of formal assessment tasks, depending upon the particular objectives of the unit. Some units will allow you opportunities to develop and practice your skills. In other units where an attribute is an important part of the unit's learning outcomes, your assessment will include a part for the skill (e.g. contribution to team outcomes). The marking criteria for assessment tasks will indicate exactly what is being assessed and to what standard.

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