Final‐year student and employer views of essential personal, interpersonal and professional attributes for new veterinary science graduates

Abstract

To describe the perceptions of final-year veterinary science students regarding the importance of a variety of personal, interpersonal and professional attributes for new graduates, and to compare these with the views held by employers of new veterinary science graduates. Final-year veterinary science students at The University of Queensland and a sample of employers of new graduates from The University of Queensland were surveyed using a written questionnaire. The distributions of responses given by students and employers did not differ significantly for 44 of 54 attributes listed. Communication skills, teamwork, respect for co-workers, honesty and an awareness of personal limitations were valued highly by students and employers. Final-year students and employers of new graduates from The University of Queensland ascribe similar importance to a variety of personal, interpersonal and professional attributes for new veterinary science graduates.