UOW Graduate Qualities

These valuable qualities gained by UOW graduates are essential for gaining employment and making an important contribution to society and their chosen field.

The UOW Graduate Attributes were reviewed in 2006-7, through extensive consultation with staff and students.

From 1 January 2008, UOW will:

• promote UOW Graduate Qualities, which express a shared vision for UOW graduates in language that is supported by staff and students

• offer a flexible approach for Faculties in the interpretation of the UOW Graduate Qualities using language tailored for that discipline

• streamline three earlier UOW frameworks (graduate attributes, research graduate attributes and tertiary literacies) into a single set of UOW Graduate Qualities.

The new UOW Graduate Qualities

UOW is committed to developing graduates who are:

Informed

Have a sound knowledge of an area of study or profession and understand its current issues, locally and internationally. Know how to apply this knowledge. Understand how an area of study has developed and how it relates to other areas.

Independent learners

Engage with new ideas and ways of thinking and critically analyse issues. Seek to extend knowledge through ongoing research, enquiry and reflection. Find and evaluate information, using a variety of sources and technologies. Acknowledge the work and ideas of others.

Problem solvers

Take on challenges and opportunities. Apply creative, logical and critical thinking skills to respond effectively. Make and implement decisions. Be flexible, thorough, innovative and aim for high standards.

Effective communicators

Articulate ideas and convey them effectively using a range of media. Work collaboratively and engage with people in different settings. Recognise how culture can shape communication.

Responsible

Understand how decisions can affect others and make ethically informed choices. Appreciate and respect diversity. Act with integrity as part of local, national, global and professional communities.

A flexible approach for Faculties

“We want to talk about Graduate Qualities in ways that make sense for students studying physics … history … journalism … economics … nursing …”

The new UOW Graduate Qualities Policy allows each Faculty or discipline area to interpret the UOW Graduate Qualities into their own language. For example, a sound professional knowledge in Journalism is very different to that in Engineering, as are the research methods, problem solving techniques and ethical codes.

Alternatively, a Faculty may also elect to simply adopt the UOW Graduate Qualities as their Faculty/Discipline Graduate Qualities, rather than create a separate list. The UOW Graduate Qualities are suitable for all students and courses.

Timeline

The new UOW Graduate Qualities were approved by University Council on 17 August 2007 for commencement on 1 January 2008.

Implementation Schedule	Critical Deadlines
Adoption by Faculty of Faculty/Discipline Graduate Qualities	1 July 2008
Posting link between Faculty/Discipline Graduate Qualities and UOW Graduate Qualities on Faculty website	1 July 2008
Application of new Subject Outline requirements	Subjects offered in Spring Session 2008
Application of policy to existing courses
a. cross-reference the new Faculty/Discipline Graduate Qualities to the old Graduate Attributes, and use this table to substitute wording in Faculty documents	Commencement of Spring Session 2008
b. revise curricula to systematically develop new Faculty/Discipline Graduate Qualities	As part of next scheduled review (in accordance with Course Review Guidelines in Quality Review Framework)
c. application of new policy to new course approval applications	1 January 2009

Policy and Guidelines

UOW Graduate Qualities Policy – Effective 1 January 2008

UOW Graduate Qualities: Faculty Implementation Guidelines

Last reviewed: 6 July, 2009