Generic Graduate Attributes - What are they? Why do I need to know about them?

The University of Tasmania has identified 5 core attributes as the foundation of its Policy on Generic Attributes of Graduates of the University of Tasmania:

• Knowledge
• Communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Global perspective
• Social responsibility

These attributes, to be actively developed over your time at university, will serve you well in your employment and further lifelong learning. Generic (general) graduate attributes are skills, abilities and competencies you can acquire and apply to a wide range of activities in your life, including employment. They are among the qualities highly valued by universities, communities and employers and are recognised as essential elements of your education. Some of these attributes will be embedded in your curriculum and can be identified in your unit outlines.

Generic graduate attributes can be transferred to other areas of your life. Skills you have developed in your specific subject areas while at university (e.g. accounting) can be transferred from that context into another (e.g. another subject area, a community role or an employment-related task). These transferable skills enable you to perform work different from that for which you have been educated. For example, an accounting graduate with a second major in Human Resource Management and well-developed interpersonal skills may have the capacity to move from a graduate accounting role into one which involves the management of staff in an organisation.

Regular reflection on your course-related academic experiences in relation to generic graduate attributes will help you understand the relevance of your coursework, recognise your achievements and refine your educational goals. Generic attributes can also be acquired through your extra-curricular activities (past or present) or employment experience.

By recording and reflecting on your attributes you'll be able to assess your overall progress, which will help you gain confidence as an emerging professional. Keeping a record of your graduate attributes will help you assemble information for employment applications and make it easier for you to discuss your skills and competencies with others, especially during job interviews. Examples of what to record and how to go about it can be found in the 'Faculty of Business Portfolio'.