Context
The University’s Graduate Attributes Framework describes the skills and mindsets all our students should have the opportunity to develop in broad and generic terms.
The University of Edinburgh Graduate Attributes Framework
Degree programme and course descriptors are asked to describe these attributes in discipline-specific ways – what skills and mindsets will students develop and need on that programme or course?
Terminology
Multiple terms are used to describe graduate attributes. At the University of Edinburgh, we describe two different types of attribute:
mindsets that influence students' behaviours
Mindsets are our usual ways of thinking about something and our attitudes towards it, for example our attitude towards knowledge and learning. Mindsets are generally developed across a degree programme experience, rather than within an individual course.
skills that enable and empower students' actions
Individual courses will develop and require specific skills. Across a degree programme, this development combines and accumulates to produce the higher-order skills of graduates from that discipline. Examples of higher-order skills include analysis, evaluation, synthesis, critical thinking. Other terms related to skills that are often used include abilities, competencies and capabilities.
The University of Edinburgh Graduate Attributes Framework
Guidance and support
The sections below provide guidance on building graduate attributes into programme and course information.
If you would like to discuss the graduate attributes for your course or programme, how these are articulated or supported, please get in touch.