What are the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes?
Why has the University introduced Aberdeen Graduate Attributes?
What is the connection between Aberdeen Graduate Attributes and ACHIEVE?
How do I access the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site?
How can I encourage my students to use the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site?
Where can I find help and information about the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site?
How will Aberdeen Graduate Attributes enhance the employability of undergraduates?
What do current students think of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes?
What are the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes?
Aberdeen Graduate Attributes are a wide-ranging set of qualities which students will develop during their time at University, in preparation for future employment, further study and citizenship.
There are four main areas of the Graduate Attributes:
- Academic excellence
- Critical thinking and communication
- Learning and personal development
- Active citizenship.
Why has the University introduced Aberdeen Graduate Attributes?
Graduate Attributes were developed specifically to reflect the increasing focus on the student experience which is a crucial element of the University's recently reformed curriculum. Restructuring our provision has enabled the University to adopt a more holistic approach which embeds graduate attributes in curriculum development, and in co-curricular activities such as work placements, study abroad and volunteering.
What is the connection between Aberdeen Graduate Attributes and ACHIEVE?
Students will have many opportunities to develop their Aberdeen Graduate Attributes, which will include learning experiences on credit-bearing courses and co-curricular activities such as work placements, study abroad and volunteering. The ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site offers resources to support students through the process, and enables them to assess and reflect upon their present skills and development needs. They can also use the site to find resources to help them to improve their skills, as well as links to a range of university services, including the Student Learning Service and the Careers Service.
Students in Levels 1-4 will find ACHIEVE in the 'My Organisations' section within MyAberdeen.
How do I access the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site?
All staff members will find ACHIEVE within their MyAberdeen site. The site presents four Graduate Attributes areas and links to resources that provide students with opportunities to develop their Aberdeen Graduate Attributes.
How can I encourage my students to use the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site?
To help students make the most of the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site, student workshops will be available early in the first half session, details of which can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/newstudents. Flyers are also distributed around campus.
Members of staff can help to raise awareness in their students of the Graduate Attribute project by introducing it at the start of a taught course and linking it to course assessments. It may also be beneficial to direct students who wish to improve in a particular area e.g. with essay writing, to the ACHIEVE site. If you would like a "guided tour" of the site from a member of the Centre for Learning & Teaching, or for any other queries, email: graduate-attributes@abdn.ac.uk.
You can find a PowerPoint slide to promote ACHIEVE in your introductory course lecture here.
Where can I find help and information about the ACHIEVE MyAberdeen site?
The ACHIEVE site is supported and maintained by the Centre for Learning & Teaching and the Careers Service. For more information on Graduate Attributes visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/graduateattributes/.
If you would like to discuss how you can use ACHIEVE in your teaching, or for anything else that you cannot find on these pages, email:graduate-attributes@abdn.ac.uk.
How will Aberdeen Graduate Attributes enhance the employability of undergraduates?
Developing the qualities that underpin the Aberdeen Graduates Attributes should enable students to develop enhanced transferable skills, such as communication and team working skills, and enable them to articulate these qualities more fully. Aberdeen Graduate Attributes are built into each course SENAS form approval process and attainment of these attributes may provide a competitive advantage for students in the world of work.
To see what potential employers from multi-national and smaller companies think of Aberdeen's Graduate Attributes please read the quotes below.
“As a leading employer of graduates, we recognise the important role played by Graduate Attributes at the University of Aberdeen by encouraging students to build on their potential to develop and producing high-calibre, motivated individuals who are ready to enter the world of professional services.”
Rachel Lawrence
PwC | Talent Channels Manager
PricewaterhouseCoopers
“Students and graduates who show evidence of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes will be very attractive to potential employers. Even although graduates may require further job specific training, they will have the core skills to be immediately useful to their new organisation, an important consideration in these tough economic times.”
Beth Duff
CEO, Gentle Leadership
What do current students think of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes?
Students who have actively used ACHIEVE have provided very positive comments about the site e.g. "It is easy to navigate around and helps me reflect upon my daily situation as a student", "I think it was good in terms of supporting learning e.g. with notes on how to take notes" and "It gives ideas on how to analyse your studies, interests, progress etc".
In addition to this, a desk-based study to evaluate the Aberdeen Graduate Attribute Project through a longitudinal survey of 2010 level 1 entrants until they graduate in 2014 is currently underway. All level 1 entrants were invited to complete an online questionnaire at the end of the first-half session. The questionnaire was designed to assess students':
- perception of how their current attributes map onto the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes at matriculation
- initial experience of the curriculum and development of their attributes
- initial experience of the co-curriculum and other University initiatives designed to develop and awareness of Aberdeen's Graduate Attributes
- goals and objectives while at University.
A cross-section of students responding to the survey has already been invited to participate in focus groups to further discuss their perceptions and support requirements during this four year period.