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ResearchThe Beyond Education project is informed by the most current research that is available. The theoretical underpinnings which have driven the development of the project's three distinct sections are examined below.Employability workshopsEmployability skills may be defined as those skills that are important for individuals to progress in their careers and make a positive contribution to their employer. They are distinct from discipline specific skills and cover a wide range of qualities such as communication skills, interpersonal skills, networking and team work. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has identified four major elements of employability skills:
The following documents refer to research that has been conducted in Australia regarding the importance of employability skills:
Major western countries such as Canada, the UK, USA and Australia have in recent years taken the view that an important goal of higher education should be the development of specific graduate attributes that have been identified as important for career success. Graduate attributes are those qualities that tertiary institutions aim to impart to their students. They are similar to employability skills, the major difference is that graduate attributes specifically refer to university graduates. These attributes include a variety of skills such as communication, problem solving, teamwork, and creativity. A committee at USQ has identified the attributes of a USQ graduate. Most OECD countries have developed their own specific lists. For example the UK, USA, Australia and Canada have all developed their own set of attributes:
While each country has developed their own distinct list there are clear similarities between each skill set. Therefore, it may be seen that social, technological and economic changes in recent decades have had a profound impact on the needs of business when it comes to hiring new staff. These new conditions have placed new demands on workers, and the education system must adapt to provide graduates who have these skills. The following online resources provide detailed information on the subject of graduate attributes for various disciplines and tertiary institutions: Graduate induction
Career mentoring
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