A mapping of graduate attributes: what can we expect from UK university students?

Meggie Copsey-Blake,Myrto Nikolopoulou,Yuan-Li Tiffany Chiu,Billy Wong

doi:10.1080/07294360.2021.1882405

Meggie Copsey-Blake, Myrto Nikolopoulou + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2021.1882405

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The higher education market has prompted universities to justify their value and worth, especially to students. In Australia, New Zealand and the UK, it is increasingly common for universities to advertise their vision to prospective students, through Graduate Attributes, and showcase the sets of skills and competencies their graduates would develop throughout a degree. Whilst there are extensive studies in Australasia, research in the UK context is limited. This paper presents what we believe is the first national mapping of graduate attributes proposed by UK universities. Our analysis suggests four discourses that characterise the overarching qualities that UK students can expect to embody by graduation: self-awareness & lifelong learning, employability & professional development, global citizenship & engagement and academic & research literacy. These discourses are discussed in relation to the concept of the ‘ideal graduate’ as we highlight what can be expected from students who complete a UK higher education.

Highlights

In countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the higher education market has prompted universities to justify their value and worth, which has encouraged the development of graduate attributes (Barrie et al, 2009; Normand & Anderson, 2017; Spronken-Smith et al, 2013)
This paper presents what we believe is the first national mapping of graduate attributes proposed by UK universities
Our analysis suggests four discourses that characterise the overarching qualities that UK students can expect to embody by graduation: self-awareness & lifelong learning, employability & professional development, global citizenship & engagement and academic & research literacy. These discourses are discussed in relation to the concept of the ‘ideal graduate’ as we highlight what can be expected from students who complete a UK higher education

Summary

Introduction

In countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK, the higher education market has prompted universities to justify their value and worth, which has encouraged the development of graduate attributes (Barrie et al, 2009; Normand & Anderson, 2017; Spronken-Smith et al, 2013). Our analysis suggests four discourses that characterise the overarching qualities that UK students can expect to embody by graduation: self-awareness & lifelong learning, employability & professional development, global citizenship & engagement and academic & research literacy.

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