1. ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ – The impact of Graduate Attributes on students

2. A little bit about me… Graduate, War Studies. Course Rep in third year Elected as Academic Vice President, UWSU GA Project Worker

3. What work are we doing on the Graduate Attributes? Consulting students and academic staff, from all departments and services. Student questionnaire Facilitating ‘Expert Panels’ and working groups. Liaising with other HEIs Encouraging academic ownership of the GAs Developing online resources and tools

4. Graduate attributes on a local and national level

5. Towards Graduate Attributes: Student Research Project: Graduate Attributes Project (GAP) Methodology: Qualitative and interpretive Source of data: 52 students face-to-face ‘clipboard’ questionnaire Followed up by 6 in-depth videos

6. What did we find out? Students are already aware of the Graduate Attributes, even though they are not formally in the curriculum yet. “University giving you the correct skills to go out into the wider world and prepare them for real world experience” –L–Level 2 student, SEBE “To ensure that graduates have the necessary skills to showcase to potential employers and also to develop themselves personally and professionally in order to succeed in an ever-changing and turbulent society” –G–Graduate 2009, LSSC

7. “I’m going on my placement next year, so I’ll end up with work experience in a real business, which is vital” - Level 3 student, SCIT. Knowledge AND Enterprise TOWARDS…

8. “Feel proud of mastering IT skills, I didn’t know anything about computers” Digital literacy - Level 2 student, SEBE.

9. “The people you meet – sharing cultures and knowledge. The wide variety of people from different backgrounds” TOWARDS… Global citizens - Level 3 student, SAS.

10. What else did students say? Valued the sense of community amongst the student body; cross cultural dialogue broadened horizons. Importance of employability and work experience key to success post-university Not just coming into HE for subject specific knowledge anymore

11. Contact: Will.Varnam@wlv.ac.uk www.wlv.ac.uk/graduate www.wlv.ac.uk/ILE