Using graduate attributes as a curriculum design tool

Paper

Dowling, D. G.. 2009. "Using graduate attributes as a curriculum design tool." van den Bogaard, Maartje, de Graaff, Erik and Saunders-Smits, Gillian (ed.) 37th European Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference SEFI 2009): Attracting Young People to Engineering . Rotterdam, Netherlands 01 - 04 Jul 2009 Brussels, Belgium.
Paper/Presentation Title

Using graduate attributes as a curriculum design tool

Presentation TypePaper
Authors
AuthorDowling, D. G.
Editorsvan den Bogaard, Maartje, de Graaff, Erik and Saunders-Smits, Gillian
Journal or Proceedings TitleProceedings of the 37th European Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference (SEFI 2009)
ERA Conference ID44025
Number of Pages7
Year2009
Place of PublicationBrussels, Belgium
ISBN9782873520014
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://www.sefi.be/wp-content/abstracts2009/Dowling.pdf
Conference/Event37th European Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference SEFI 2009): Attracting Young People to Engineering
SEFI - Annual Conference of European Society for Engineering Education
Event Details
SEFI - Annual Conference of European Society for Engineering Education
Rank
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
Event Details
37th European Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference SEFI 2009): Attracting Young People to Engineering
Event Date
01 to end of 04 Jul 2009
Event Location
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Abstract

The paper describes the development of a research-based graduate attribute policy and how it was used to review the curriculum of the Bachelor of Engineering program at the University of Southern Queensland. The policy was developed from a set of principles defined after an extensive review of the relevant literature. It includes processes that are used, firstly, to develop a set of industry authenticated graduate attributes for a program and then to design the curriculum using those attributes. Finally, the policy defines processes that ensure that the graduate attributes are embedded and assessed in the courses in the program.
At least two sets of graduate attributes are defined for each program. Firstly, a set of attribute statements is developed so that they are appropriate for all of the graduates of the program. Secondly, a set of graduate attributes is defined for each of the specialisations, or majors, that may be studied in the program. Thus, civil engineering students would be expected to acquire both the program attributes and the civil engineering attributes while completing their program.
The paper concludes by describing the author's experience in using the policy to re-develop the curriculum for the Bachelor of Engineering program in 2006.

Keywordsgraduate attributes; curriculum design; quality; stakeholder consultation
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390102. Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development
390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
390402. Education assessment and evaluation
Public Notes

© 2014 SEFI - Society for European Engineering Education. This publication is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purposes of study, research, or review, but is subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source.

Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Surveying and Land Information
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