Assessing graduate attributes and their students

Alex Radloff, CQU

Barbara de la Harpe, RMIT

Helen Dalton, UNSW

Jan Thomas, Murdoch

Anne Lawson, CQU

engaging academic staff

Introduction Quick quiz Progress to date What is valued? Most significant factor

All universities have a list of graduate attributes

can you recite the list?

There is a link between graduate attributes and employability

can you provide evidence?

All universities are doing things to develop graduate attributes

can you give an example?

How far do you think universities have got with ensuring graduates

have well developed graduate attributes?

…the overall picture in Higher Education systems around the world is one of patchy implementation and uptake of graduate attribute initiatives

Barrie, 2006, p. 218

What do you think is the most significant

factor in ensuring graduate attributes are integrated into the curriculum?

Academics are experts in their field of study

Assessment is the litmus test

Assessment reveals what

is really

valued

Elephant in the room

…the beliefs that academic staff hold regarding graduate attributes has a major impact on their engagement in any institutional attempts to embed graduate attributes in the curriculum — especially when changes are initiated from the ‘top down’

Gentle nudge

Big push

What else is required?

Institutional commitment to good teaching

Supportive context Leadership

and most importantly

open hearts and minds