University of Canberra/Generic skills

Generic skills and attributes of University of Canberra graduates from undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses

The University of Canberra is committed to graduating creative professionals who are capable of developing innovative solutions to problems facing society. This will require graduates to possess analytical and critical capacities as well as the ability to synthesise ideas and adapt to new situations. The University expects its graduates to have developed a body of professional and disciplinary knowledge and technical skills as well as a set of appropriate professional attitudes. In addition, the University strives to develop in its students a range of skills and attributes which will equip them to succeed in a wide range of different tasks and jobs and facilitate their contribution to the society they live in.

The development of these skills and attributes will take place in all courses in ways that reflect the particular discipline or professional field. While the skills and attributes have been listed separately it should be recognised that effective professional practice requires the ability to integrate knowledge and the different skills and attributes.

The implementation of the generic skills and attributes

The skills and attributes expected of UC graduates are expressed in general or generic terms that provide a framework for their development in the context of different award levels and specific disciplines and professional fields. In particular, the skills and attributes will:

1. reflect the focus on professional education at the University of Canberra;
2. be supported and understood by all staff and students of the University;
3. be fundamental to curriculum design, teaching methods and assessment within subjects and courses;
4. contextualised at the level of individual subjects and courses;
5. be relatable to the teaching and learning outcomes of particular subjects and courses;
6. be explicitly communicated to staff, students and employers through subject and course documentation;
7. be capable of self-assessment by students;
8. be demonstrable through presentation of appropriate evidence by students; and
9. be regularly reviewed.

The generic skills and attributes

The University recognises that individuals entering its programs bring with them a diversity of personal and professional attributes that should be further developed by their experience as students and graduates of the University. The University expects all of its graduates in undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses to have developed the following skills and attributes to a level appropriate for their award which will equip them for success in professional life:

Communication	Create, express, present, listen, respond and negotiate ideas.
Information Literacy and Numeracy	Locate, identify, collate, analyse, manipulate, evaluate, interpret and present information and numerical data.
Information and Communication Technology	Select and use appropriate information and communication technology to retrieve, manipulate and present information.
Problem Solving	Identify and analyse problems, use problem solving processes, arguments, critical and creative thinking, implement and evaluate strategies for problem resolution, anticipate, define, identify and resolve new problems.
Working With Others	Work with others, take responsibility for carrying out tasks, aware of the roles and responsibilities of group members, evaluate group performance, take initiative and demonstrate leadership, respect the rights of others (irrespective of their cultural background, race or gender).
Effective Workplace Skills	Demonstrate entrepreneurial skills (incl. creativity, initiative, adaptability, leadership, resourcefulness), initiate new ideas, implement decisions and cope with uncertainty, function in a multi-cultural or global environment.
Professional Ethics	Act responsibly, ethically and with integrity in the context of their profession and obligations to society, appreciate the social and cultural context of their profession.
Social Responsibility	Work toward improvement in society, understand economic, political, social, and environmental systems with an international perspective, act in environmentally sustainable ways, accept service to the community as the primary purpose for professional life.
Lifelong Learning	Independent self-directed learners with capacity and motivation for lifelong learning, aware of how they best learn, self-knowledgeable, able to assess own performance critically and accurately, understand how to apply knowledge and abilities to different contexts and fields.
Personal Attributes	Independent thinkers and agents for change, confidence to challenge existing ideas, commitment to ongoing self-development, value and respect differing views, confident in self and own skills and knowledge.

Communication

Graduates are expected to be able to:

1. express knowledge, ideas and opinions in their professional field, both orally and in written form, with confidence and clarity;
2. present arguments and ideas effectively;
3. actively listen and respond to the ideas of other people;
4. negotiate effectively; and
5. create and present new ideas.

Information Literacy and Numeracy

Graduates are expected to be able to locate, identify, collate, analyse, manipulate, evaluate, interpret and present information and numerical data.

Information and Communication Technology

Graduates are expected to be able to select and use appropriate information and communication technology to retrieve, manipulate and present information.

Problem Solving

Graduates are expected to be able to:

1. identify problems and analyse the main features of problems relevant to their professional field;
2. apply appropriate problem solving processes, arguments, critical and creative thinking;
3. implement and evaluate strategies for the resolution of problems;
4. anticipate and define new problems; and
5. identify and resolve new problems in new fields.

Working With Others

Graduates are expected to be able to:

1. work with others as part of a group;
2. take responsibility for carrying out agreed tasks;
3. be aware of the different roles and responsibilities of group members;
4. evaluate group performance;
5. take initiative and demonstrate leadership; and
6. respect the rights of others irrespective of their cultural background, race or gender.

Effective Workplace Skills

Graduates are expected to:

1. demonstrate entrepreneurial skills including creativity, initiative, adaptability, leadership, resourcefulness;
2. have the ability to initiate new ideas, implement decisions and cope with uncertainty; and
3. be able to function in a multi-cultural or global environment.

Professional Ethics

Graduates are expected to:

1. act responsibly, ethically and with integrity in the context of their profession and their obligations to society; and
2. appreciate the social and cultural context of their profession.

Social Responsibility

Graduates are expected to:

1. work toward improvement in society;
2. understand economic, political, social, and environmental systems with an international perspective;
3. act in environmentally sustainable ways; and
4. accept service to the community as the primary purpose for professional life.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates are expected to:

1. be independent self-directed learners with the capacity and motivation for lifelong learning;
2. be aware of how they best learn;
3. possess self-knowledge and the ability to assess their own performance critically and accurately; and
4. have an understanding of how to apply their knowledge and abilities to many different contexts and fields.

Personal Attributes

Graduates are expected to:

1. be independent thinkers and agents for change;
2. have confidence to challenge existing ideas;
3. show commitment to ongoing self-development;
4. value and respect differing views;
5. be confident in themselves and their own skills and knowledge.