Graduate Attributes at the University of Edinburgh

• What are….

Graduate Attributes?

• What’s in it for me?

Graduate Attributes are…

• How would you define Graduate Attributes? What do they mean to you? Discuss in pairs and write down your definition

So, are graduate attributes about…• my ‘soft skills’?• ‘generic’ skills: same for everyone, regardless of the

academic discipline and/or professional sector?• getting a job?• Is it about AFTER I graduate?• Is it something they will teach me?• …time management, organising, planning, essay

writing, teamworking, presenting, etc? I’ve done that before!

The context: The University

• Students: proud and valued members of the student community

• Research-led global university with:• entrepreneurial spirit• sustainable ethics• a strong commitment to equality and diversity• deep local engagement

Wider context

• Is the future predictable?

• ‘To be employed is to be at risk, to be employable is to be secure’

The Art of Building Windmills, Peter Hawkins (1999)

Edinburgh EdGe!

How my thinking impacts myself and the world around me

My unique ‘toolbox’

• Exercising rational enquiry, questioning, searching for and

evaluating information• Thinking critically

• Approaching problems• Celebrating diversity in

disciplines

• Exercising rational enquiry, questioning, searching for and

evaluating information• Thinking critically

• Approaching problems• Celebrating diversity in

disciplines

• Thinking creatively• Managing time, planning, organising, • Being aware of one's learning style,

taking responsibility for own learning• Collaborating, debating, sharing• Being intellectually curious• Being ok with uncertainty

• Thinking creatively• Managing time, planning, organising, • Being aware of one's learning style,

taking responsibility for own learning• Collaborating, debating, sharing• Being intellectually curious• Being ok with uncertainty

Using self-awareness Harnessing an enterprising

mindset Managing risk and change

Working with others Being resilient

Leading and managing

Using self-awareness Harnessing an enterprising

mindset Managing risk and change

Working with others Being resilient

Leading and managing

Listening effectively Adapting communication:

considering purpose and audience

Networking Communicating across

cultures Seeking and giving feedback

Listening effectively Adapting communication:

considering purpose and audience

Networking Communicating across

cultures Seeking and giving feedback

Stand out, adopt the EdGE!

• know and develop your strengths,

• have evidence for your abilities and achievements,

• Be confident about the best way to communicate all of this to potential recruiters

• Stand out as Edinburgh graduate

How?•Reflective learning•Capturing this learning: (e.g. MyEdge PebblePad workbook) •Getting involved (academic life, wider University life, outside of University)•Other?

In other words…

the way I think + my unique tool box = my EdGE

+ =

Back to some questions• Is it about my ‘soft skills’? No! Why?• Is it about ‘generic’ skills: same/similar for

everyone, regardless of the academic discipline or professional sector? No! Why?

• Is it about getting a job? Not only! Why?• Is it about AFTER I graduate? Not really! Why?• Is it something they will teach me? No! Why?• Time management, organising, planning, essay

writing, teamworking, presenting, etc? I’ve done that before! Not this way

Graduate Attributes

• So, how would you define Graduate Attributes?

• Think of at least 3 REAL benefits of developing graduate attributes for:

- your own learning as a university student in your discipline

- your work and/or career- wider society and community

Conclusion?

Over to you