Portfolio - What is it? Why should I compile one?

A portfolio is a repository of information about you. It can be used to document and present your academic, professional and personal development. It can contain examples and evidence related to your skills, interests, personal attributes and achievements and will allow you to reflect on them. Self-reflection means you can monitor your own self-development as you progress through your studies in the Faculty of Business and through life. Portfolios can be assembled in hard copy or electronically. At the University of Tasmania , you can use a portfolio to store information about your acquisition of Generic Graduate Attributes which are the qualities the University wishes you to acquire during your studies and are skills typically sought by employers. The Faculty of Business is keen to assist students recognise these attributes which will be actively developed over your time at university and will serve you well in your career and lifelong learning. A portfolio is a comprehensive way of providing evidence to employers, to you and other interested individuals of your skills.

The following information about what to include in a portfolio is divided into 5 sections to allow you to begin recording evidence against each of the 5 core attributes identified and articulated by the University of Tasmania . There are other attributes you may like to include and you can make additions or changes to your portfolio at any time.

Generic Graduate Attributes

The University of Tasmania has identified five core attributes as the foundation of its Policy on Generic Attributes of Graduates at the University of Tasmania.

1. Knowledge
2. Communication skills
3. Problem solving skills
4. Global perspective
5. Social responsibility

By recording and reflecting on your attributes you will be able to assess your overall progress, which will help you gain self-confidence as an emerging professional. Examples of what you can include in your portfolio against each attribute are detailed in each of the 5 sections following. If you need further advice you can contact the Career Development & Employment Service on your campus.

1. Knowledge

Examples of this attribute may include evidence of situations where you can demonstrate you have in-depth knowledge of your chosen field of study and have the ability to apply that knowledge in practice.

Examples may include any of the following:

• Application of technical skills appropriate to your discipline (e.g., demonstrate use of specific computing skills/technologies applicable to your area of study/employment)

• Use a wide range of academic skills and apply them (e.g., using an in-class assignment show how you researched, analysed and synthesised information to successfully complete the assignment, demonstrate how you applied what you learnt to your discipline/profession)

• Understand the limitations of, and have the capacity to evaluate your current knowledge (e.g., recognise that you may not know everything you need to about a given situation/problem and can identify information gaps)

• Develop a broad knowledge base of your discipline and respect the contribution of other disciplines or professional areas (e.g., understand the concepts and principles related to your own area of study and recognise the value of drawing on areas of knowledge outside your discipline area)

• Identify, evaluate and implement personal learning strategies (e.g., recognise how you learn and create/change your learning environment to best suit your learning needs)

• Learn independently and cooperatively (e.g., conduct independent research and draw on the knowledge of others where appropriate)

• Learn new skills and apply learning to new and unexpected situations (e.g., undertake further study or training to adapt to or change your learning/work environment)

• Recognise opportunities (e.g., be able to identify and use a variety of resources to build on your knowledge and apply that knowledge appropriately)

2. Communication Skills

Examples of this attribute may include evidence of situations where you can demonstrate you have communicated effectively in a variety of contexts.

Examples may include any of the following:

• Demonstrate oral, written, numerical and graphic communication (e.g., in-class presentations, written assignments, reports, public-speaking)

• Use the method and form of communication appropriate for a given situation (e.g., display sensitivity to your audience in organising and presenting your ideas through effective use of diagrams, images, essays, reports, Powerpoint presentations etc.)

• Present well-reasoned arguments, using technology where appropriate (e.g., well-balanced viewpoint backed up with evidence and expressed through appropriate media)

• Access, organise and present information through technology-based activity (e.g., appropriate use of electronic media to communicate ideas - powerpoint presentations, slides, CDs, video)

• Listen to and evaluate the views of others (e.g., consider all points of view when working with others, seek clarification of issues where necessary and provide feedback where appropriate, display cultural sensitivity)

3. Problem-solving Skills

Examples of this attribute may include evidence of situations where you can demonstrate you are an effective problem-solver, capable of applying logical, critical and creative thinking to a range of problems.

Examples may include any of the following:

• Identify critical issues in your discipline or professional area (e.g., define researchable questions in your discipline or professional area)

• Conceptualise problems and formulate a range of solutions (e.g., drawing on evidence from an in-class assignment or research project, show how you gathered information about a problem, how you analysed it, synthesised it and initiated creative responses to it; demonstrate how you may have identified your responses to the problem as opportunities; explain how you applied different strategies to conceptualise the problem and formulate your solution)

• Work effectively with others (e.g., using a team-based project - demonstrate how you use logical and rational argument to persuade or negotiate with others, show how you worked collaboratively with team members to complete the project, show how you exhibited leadership within a team context by understanding responsibilities in organisation, planning, negotiation, show how you were able to cooperate with other team members, share ideas, forgo personal recognition, negotiate solutions where opinions differ, resolve conflict, recognise strengths of other team-members, share responsibility, convey a shared vision for the team, demonstrate a commitment to ensure the team functioned effectively)

• Find, acquire, evaluate, manage and use relevant information in a range of media (e.g., drawing on evidence from an in-class assignment, demonstrate the diversity of resources you used to resolve the range of problems/issues associated with the topic, show how you used this combination of resources to complete your task)

4. Global Perspective

Examples of this attribute may include evidence of your global perspective and intercultural competence.

Examples may include any of the following:

• An awareness of the local and global context of your discipline or professional area (e.g., display an ability to think globally and consider issues from a variety of perspectives, appreciate the relation between your field of study locally and professional traditions elsewhere, appreciate and demonstrate the capacity to apply international standards and practices within the discipline or professional area, recognise intercultural issues relevant to your professional practice)

• How you function in a multicultural or global context (e.g., demonstrate awareness of your own culture and its perspectives and other cultures and their perspectives, value diversity of language and culture, appreciate the importance of multicultural diversity to professional practice and citizenship, appreciate the complex and interacting factors that contribute to notions of culture and cultural relationships)

5. Social Responsibility

Examples of this attribute may include evidence of how you act ethically, with integrity and social responsibility.

Examples may include any of the following:

• Acknowledge the social and ethical implications of your actions (e.g., demonstrate an awareness of the implications of your decisions/actions on others, demonstrate sensitivity towards the historical, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds of others)

• Appreciate the impact of social change (e.g., demonstrate an awareness of the implications of decisions and actions for your community or profession, especially the political decision-making process and economic imperatives of business and industry, demonstrate how you have been able to respond appropriately to social change in a flexible and adaptable manner)

• Commitment to access and equity principles in your discipline or professional area, and society in general (e.g., recognise social justice issues relevant to your discipline/professional area, recognise the potential social and economic impact of enterprise activities on particular social groups of people)

• Demonstrate responsibility to the local community, and society generally (e.g., communicate appropriately with the public, demonstrate awareness of safety, efficiency, innovation and cost-effectiveness in relation to issues impacting on the public or society generally)

Recording your attributes

The following is an example of how you may choose to record evidence of an attribute in your portfolio. To organise your thoughts you can use the STAR acronym: S ituation T ask A ction R esult. The STAR acronym will help you to structure your thoughts about an experience so that its meaning and outcome can be clearly identified and conveyed to others.

The situation is the context in which the experience occurred. The task is what was actually required of you in the situation. The action refers to the steps you personally took in response to the task. The result refers to the outcome of your actions. When including an example of an attribute in a resume, it is best if you can refer to an example or experience where the result has been positive. The example below could be included in the content under Problem-solving Skills as evidence of how well you work in a team.*

In-class project for (Name of Unit)

S I was required to participate in a team project for the unit (Name of unit). Teams of six were allocated randomly, and our team was comprised mostly of school leaver students and a couple of mature age students. There was immediately a clash of values between the school leaver students and the mature age students.

T I undertook to try to find some middle ground in terms of expectations of each sub-group. This was an extremely difficult task because neither sub-group was initially willing to accommodate the others' views.

A I called a team meeting and involved everyone in trying to draw up a set of group rules with respect to team processes and desired outcomes. These rules were agreed upon on a trial basis, and team roles were allocated accordingly.

R Even though we had a few minor skirmishes, we were able to get the task done and we achieved a Credit overall.

What did you learn?

You may also like to reflect on what you learnt from your experience. Consider any skills or abilities that you have developed or improved as a result of the experience. Have you gained a deeper understanding of any issues relating to the experience? Can you apply what you have learned to other situations?

* example from QUT Student Portfolio 2005