QAA Cymru publishes graduate attributes report

QAA Cymru has published a major new report on the key attributes of a graduate in Wales and how providers can foster the development of these attributes.

The report has been produced by a QAA Cymru Collaborative Enhancement Project originally funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (whose functions have now been subsumed to Medr, Wales's the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research).

The project was run by colleagues from Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, Pembrokeshire College, University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Wrexham University.

The team's research identified "significant discrepancies between the skills that employers value and those that students believe they are acquiring" – which has led to "a gap between academic preparation and workplace expectations". While "employers prioritized practical attributes such as application, collaboration, and independence", it found that "students placed greater emphasis on personal expression and inclusivity".

The study also observed that such cores skills – highly valued by employers – as problem-solving, adaptability and willingness to learn were "underdeveloped" in graduates.

It makes a series of recommendations by which providers might refine their approaches in this area, including a greater integration of practice-based learning, an alignment of academic and industry terminologies, and an enhanced focus on resilience.

David Gale, QAA's Head of Wales & Northern Ireland, said: "This rigorous and extensive research project offers invaluable insights for tertiary providers, both within and beyond the borders of Wales, as our sector works to demonstrate its key contribution to industrial growth."

The full report is available on our website.