Graduate Attributes

Image of three students working at a table in the library, papers spread out in front of them.

The University of Worcester's Guidance on Embedding Graduate Attributes in the Curriculum (PDF version) 

The University of Worcester's Guidance on Embedding Graduate Attributes in the Curriculum (Word version) 

Toolkit for Course Teams on Embedding Graduate Attributes (UW credentials required for access)

‘Graduate attributes are the qualities, skills and understandings a university community agrees its students should develop during their time with the institution. These attributes include, but go beyond, the disciplinary expertise or technical knowledge that has traditionally formed the core of most university courses. They are qualities that also prepare graduates as agents for social good in an unknown future.’ (Bowden, 2000)

In developing the Learning and Teaching Strategy 2020-2025, a set of five University of Worcester graduate attributes were approved and it was agreed these should be embedded in the curriculum.

  • Social responsibility: Graduates who are globally and socially responsible, culturally aware and understand the ethical impact of decisions.
  • Reflective and resilient lifelong learning: Graduates who are resilient and aspirational, intellectually curious and critically reflective lifelong learners.
  • Problem solving: Graduates who can employ analytical, creative and evaluative skills to investigate problems and propose viable solutions.
  • Teamwork and effective communication: Graduates who can work in teams and communicate effectively to a range of audiences.
  • Digital citizenship: Graduates who have high degrees of digital capability to actively and responsibly create, communicate and collaborate online.

Supporting Skills and Graduate Attributes through myCareer
Careers & Employability now offer two new online tools through myCareer to help students reflect on their skills levels and develop these further. These skills broadly align with graduate attributes, and include adaptability, resilience, career development, critical thinking, enterprise, ethics/sustainability, personal skills, teamwork, and digital proficiency. 

Tutors and course teams can use these tools to help students reflect upon their skills and graduate attributes by completion and discussion of the skills audit and relevant pathways. 

The Skills Audit offers 30 questions leading to an assessment of the students’ self-reported skills. This links to a pathway in each skills area.  

The Skills Pathways each have 9 learning activities including articles, videos, reflection, and further activity. Pathways can be taken as standalone activity or in conjunction with the skills audit.  

You can ask students to complete the audit and pathways on a standalone basis, or could direct them to specific pathways to address specific graduate attributes as part of the personal tutoring process, or within group activities.

Further information and resources are available through the links below (please note UW credentials are required for access):

For more information please contact the Careers and Employability Service.