ACHIEVE: Graduate Attributes Making the Implicit Explicit Dr Mary Pryor & Dr Joy Perkins University of Aberdeen

Why did we develop Aberdeen Graduate Attributes? To: Reflect an increased focus on the student experience: a crucial element of Aberdeen’s Curriculum Reform Project. Revitalise staff and student engagement with a rebranded personal development planning process. Enhance student employability in the global employment market.

How are we embedding Aberdeen Graduate Attributes in the student experience? Each course to state explicitly how it supports the development of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Communication strategy to raise awareness of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes to students, staff and employers. Central website ACHIEVE, which offers students resources to assess and reflect upon their skills and development needs in the curriculum and the co-curriculum.

ACHIEVE The Graduate Attributes WebCT site Launched as part of Curriculum Reform for all new Level 1 students Offers students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the range and meaning of the Graduate Attributes. Provides students with a comprehensive range of resources to help them to assess their various skills levels and reflect upon their development needs. Signposts co-curricular options e.g. work placements & the University’s STAR award & links them to appropriate university services e.g. Student Learning Service & Careers.

Curriculum Reform: ACHIEVE Making the implicit explicit online: Interactive learning resources Self-assessment tests & exercises Reflect & record in ePortfolio The ACHIEVE WebCT site offers resouces that enable you to assess and reflect upon your present skills and development needs.

…the next phase… Challenges: Build into the site a sense of progression in working towards achieving the graduate attributes. Develop, enhance and extend the resource. Conduct a meaningful evaluation of the project. ACHIEVE

Graduate Attributes: Making the implicit explicit… …to students, staff & employers. Four challenges to discuss: Area A: Making graduate attributes explicit in academic courses. Area B: Encouraging student engagement with graduate attribute agenda. Area C:Opportunities for students to engage with graduate attributes beyond their academic courses. Area D:Raising awareness of graduate attributes with a diverse range of employers.

Questions A.How do we encourage academic staff to make graduate attributes an explicit component of their courses? B.How do we encourage student engagement with the graduate attribute agenda? C.What opportunities are there for students to achieve graduate attributes within the co- curriculum? D.How do we raise the value of the concept of graduate attributes with employers?