Connecting Pacific Peoples research mindedness with employability skills Sue Bandaranaike, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia John Willison, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

OBJECTIVE Determine how Work Skills could contribute to employability thinking among Pacific Peoples in a way that articulates with, and builds on, USP’s development of research skills in the curriculum. JW to present

The Outline Work Integrated Learning Work Skill Development (WSD) framework Connecting the WSD and the RSD Benefits to the Pacific Peoples SB

The Work Skill Development [WSD] Framework How do you extend the thinking skills of research to the thinking skills required for work? The Work Skill Development [WSD] Framework

Research Skills Thinking RSD – WSD connection Research Skills Thinking SB/JW Work Skills Thinking

The Work Skills Development Framework [WSD] [a] Employability Skills [after Bandaranaike & Willison, 2009 / 2016] SB

  Aspirationally embark & clarify goal directed work role Diligently find & generate data/knowledge using appropriate skills & technology   Constructively communicate & collaborate as a professional in a team What is my role? Critically evaluate role & reflect on lifelong learning skills JW explains Pentagon Sensitively create solutions through analysis of data and synthesis of ideas Harmoniously organise information/data and manage self & others

The Work Skills Development Framework [WSD] [b] Levels of Autonomy [after Bandaranaike & Willison, 2009 / 2016] SB Open-ended Unbounded

Levels of Autonomy & Thinking Processes Works with self-determined guidelines How do I initiate change? What are our future goals? Level 5 Works innovatively Use self-determined criteria? Use critical thinking & analysis? Level 4 Autonomy Works independently What’s missing? Match between Theory & Practice? Level 3 Limited direction What else? What’s the format?   Level 2 Highly structured guidance Where to start? What to know? Level 1 Time / Experience in context

Any Questions?

WSD as a conceptual framework that works in concert with the RSD, has the capacity to address some of the gaps around employability and enable the Pacific Peoples to transition from research skills to work skills. It supports professional practice through informed experience, engagement and critical thinking/reflection. Unlike other WIL frameworks, the WSD is able to measure the level of context-specific competency in each work skill and identify levels of autonomy students operate at for each work skill. The framework is adaptable to understanding cross cultural variations in the workplace, and can be adapted to measure variations in cognitive and affective applications of work skills in the workplace. The WSD framework was trialled internationally and across disciplines is very flexible and may be adjusted to the Pacific Peoples’ needs in alignment with USP graduate attributes and outcomes.