Graduate Attributes

Rationale* –  

  • The Institute defines the philosophy underpinning its teaching programs through the graduate attributes.
  • These describe the qualities, knowledge, and capabilities that students are encouraged to take responsibility for developing throughout their studies at the Institute. 
  • The graduate attributes are not a list of skills to be mastered; rather, they encapsulate for both students and the wider community the defining characteristics of a student’s program of study.
  • The graduate attributes describe a set of characteristics that are designed to be transferable beyond the disciplinary context in which they have been developed.
  • The graduate attributes develop the abilities to participate successfully in the workforce, and as responsible citizens.
  • Faculty will attempt to align and integrate these attributes into unit design, assessment and feedback to students as appropriate. 

Attribute 1. Grounding in the Catholic Ecclesial Context 

Graduates have a solid grounding in the Catholic ecclesial context. They have developed an understanding of Catholic theological frameworks, doctrine, key church ecclesial documents and structures relevant to their life and work context. 

Attribute 2. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth 

Graduates have advanced knowledge and integrated understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts. 

Attribute 3: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving 

Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to synthesize innovative responses to future challenges and act as agents of change and transformation. 

Attribute 4: Communication skills 

Graduates interpret and convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes. 

Attribute 5: Professionalism and leadership readiness 

Graduates engage in professional behaviour – which includes, the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback, acting with integrity and taking responsibility for their actions. They are able to take leadership roles, formal and informal, in their communities, ministries, and chosen careers. 

 Attribute 6: Ethical competency 

Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are informed by the Catholic tradition they encounter through their studies and display ethical conduct and social responsibility consistent with their roles as responsible members of society. 

Attribute 7: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency 

Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge. 

Attribute 8: Cultural capability  

Graduates are open and reflective individuals, sensitive to and accepting of diversity and the values and beliefs of other individuals and cultures – whilst recognising and challenging prejudice and bias from a sound intellectual base. 

 

*In developing these graduate attributes, the working group searched for several models. The University of Adelaide graduate attribute set was the template for this set which we adapted to our context.