Research Graduate Attributes

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Research Graduate Attributes

Graduates of USC Higher Degree by Research programs should demonstrate evidence of the following attributes on graduation:

  1. Conceptual knowledge appropriate to the level of study in a specific field or fields of research or discipline area(s);
  2. Scholarly and critical engagement with the discourse/s of a specific field or fields of research or discipline area(s);
  3. Refined capacities to manage knowledge production and dissemination in a specific field or fields of research or discipline area(s);
  4. Advanced levels of communication in a range of genres using a range of media with a diverse array of audiences;
  5. Capacities to contribute to international, national and local contexts through scholarly, autonomous and independent thinking, problem solving and decision making based on expertise in a specific field of research or discipline area(s);
  6. Respect for ethical and legal responsibilities and socially responsive and culturally inclusive decision making as integral to research design, implementation and dissemination;
  7. Ability to work creatively through research to produce new ideas, approaches or actions.

The Research Graduate Attributes were developed in consultation with relevant USC committees (Research Management and Research Degrees), academic staff and current HDR students. The Research Graduate Attributes also adhere to the Australian Qualification Framework guidelines.

Table 1 - Desirable attributes of research graduates at USC

The following taxonomy articulates the desirable attributes of research graduates at USC. The taxonomy can be a discussion starter for students and staff to articulate goals and outcomes for research training during the candidature. The taxonomy provides a useful tool for auditing the growth and development of students and a framework for producing evidence that demonstrates the achievement of attributes.

Honours

Master

Professional Doctorate

PhD/DCA

Attribute 1

Conceptual knowledge appropriate to the level of study in a specific field or fields of research or discipline area(s)

Capacity to generate adequate knowledge to engage in critical evaluation appropriate to their field of study.

Capacity to generate new conceptual knowledge through discovery of new facts, the formulation of theories or the reconstitution of established theories, base knowledge or recognised ideologies.

Capacity to generate new and/or deep conceptual knowledge that makes a contribution to a body of knowledge that is located within professional practice.

Capacity to generate new and/or deep conceptual knowledge through discovery of new facts, the formulation of, or the reconstitution of established theories, base knowledge or recognised ideologies.

Attribute 2

Scholarly and critical engagement with the discourse/s of a specific field or fields of research or discipline area(s)

Demonstrates capacity to conduct a specified program of research under appropriate supervision.

Demonstrates a well informed capacity to conduct a specified program of research under appropriate supervision.

Demonstrates a refined capacity to conduct a specified program of research autonomously, within the contexts of professional practice.

Demonstrates a highly advanced capacity to autonomously conceive and design research and carry out a completion of a specified program of research.

Attribute 3

Refined capacities to manage knowledge production and dissemination in a specific field or fields of research or discipline area(s)

Demonstrates evidence of a critiquing orientation to current literature and the conceptualisation of a research project .

Demonstrates a refined capacity to conduct and manage applied research independently at a high level of originality and quality.

Demonstrates a highly refined capacity to conduct and manage applied research independently at a high level of originality and quality.

Demonstrates a highly refined capacity to conduct and manage research independently, at a high level of originality and quality.

Attribute 4

Advanced levels of communication in a range of genres using a range of media with a diverse array of audiences

Demonstrates a capacity to critically present and evaluate results to a variety of research communities through oral presentations and publications.

Demonstrates a capacity to present and evaluate results to a variety of research communities through oral presentations and early career publications regionally and nationally.

Demonstrates a significant and original contribution to knowledge in a discipline or profession both nationally and internationally, through a range of media.

Demonstrates a significant and original contribution to knowledge in a discipline both nationally and internationally, through a range of media.

Attribute 5

Capacities to contribute to international, national and local contexts through scholarly, autonomous and independent thinking, problem solving and decision making based on expertise in a specific field of research or discipline area(s)

NA

Demonstrates beginning capacities to contribute to national and local contexts through scholarly autonomous and independent thinking, problem solving and decision making.

Demonstrates expert capacities to contribute to international, national and local contexts through scholarly, autonomous and independent thinking, problem solving and decision making.

Demonstrates expert capacities to contribute to international, national and local contexts through scholarly autonomous and independent thinking, problem solving and decision making.

Attribute 6

Respect for ethical and legal responsibilities and socially responsive and culturally inclusive decision making as integral to research design, implementation and dissemination

Demonstrates respect for ethical and legal responsibilities and socially responsive and culturally inclusive decision making as integral to research design, implementation and dissemination.

Demonstrates respect for ethical and legal responsibilities and socially responsive and culturally inclusive decision making as integral to research design, implementation and dissemination.

Demonstrates respect for ethical and legal responsibilities and socially responsive and culturally inclusive decision making as integral to research design, implementation and dissemination.

Demonstrates respect for ethical and legal responsibilities and socially responsive and culturally inclusive decision making as integral to research design, implementation and dissemination.

Attribute 7

Ability to work creatively through research to produce new ideas, approaches or actions

Demonstrates a capacity to formulate and test research questions or hypotheses at a foundational level of originality and quality.

Demonstrates a capacity to formulate and test research questions or hypotheses at a moderate level of originality and quality.

Demonstrates a capacity to formulate and test research questions or hypotheses that will make a significant and practical contribution to the field.

Demonstrates a capacity to formulate and test research questions or hypotheses at a high level of originality and quality.

 

Approved by Academic Board, Resolution AB10/106, 27 July 2010.

 END

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  • CRICOS Provider No 01595D |
  • Updated: 23 May 2012