TI Graduate Attributes
The Development and Academic Council is currently discussing whether Tipperary Institute graduates should possess a common set of skills regardless of the specific disciplines or programmes studied. This is a response to expectations that graduates operate in and contribute to society in ways which extend beyond the formal qualification they have received. It is also a response to consistent calls by employers for graduates who have a range of skills and capabilities not directly related to the discipline or professional area in which they have studied.
Interest in defining a set of generic graduate skills or attributes is based on a belief that these skills equip individuals to achieve their full potential in employment, life and the community. Increasingly third level institutions aim to ensure that by the time students graduate they will have attained a detailed grasp of knowledge and skills in their chosen discipline, as well as having developed abilities to participate successfully in the workforce, and as responsible members of communities. Students need to know how to find, analyse and manage information, to communicate effectively with others, to create solutions to problems, to provide leadership, to make ethical decisions and to continue to learn throughout their lives.
Graduate attributes recognise that students are being prepared for an uncertain future where changes in knowledge and professional practice are occurring at a rapid rate. These generic skills are highly-valued by employers for their role in enhancing the capacity of employees to respond, learn and adapt when workplace demands change. Discipline-specific skills in many areas have only a short life.
Many higher education institutions have identified between 5 and 12 attributes that reflect the distinctive nature of that institution while being sufficiently general to apply across all disciplinary areas. A set of graduate attributes for Tipperary Institute could include the following:
- Knowledge
Breadth and depth of knowledge and skills in a field of study, and links to other fields of study
- Communication skills
Ability to communicate effectively in different contexts using written, spoken and ICT skills
- Social interaction
A capacity to collaborate effectively, and to negotiate and resolve conflict
- Independence and creativity
Ability to work and learn independently, adapt to changing environments and identify problems and create solutions
- Critical judgement
Ability to collect, analyse, organise and evaluate information, and make informed judgements and decisions
- Global perspective
A knowledge of and respect for other cultures
- Social responsibility
An understanding of individual and social responsibilities, and of personal and professional ethical standards.
If it is possible for us to agree on a set of graduate attributes for Tipperary Institute, those attributes should be reflected in the learning outcomes of all TI programmes, along with discipline-specific outcomes. The acquisition of those attributes would need to be nurtured through formal curriculum content, and the means by which that content is delivered and assessed. Development of those attributes could be encouraged also through work placements and a TI learning environment that extends beyond the classroom to encompass the full student experience.
There is some overlap between the graduate attributes described above and the standards of knowledge, skill and competence defined in the National Framework of Qualifications. However, it may be possible for TI to gain a competitive advantage by a more explicit statement of the specific attributes of our graduates.
