This workshop will explore the extent to which graduate attributes are actively promoted by universities as a way to embed employability within programmes of study. Attendees will be invited to share experiences and approaches to working with graduate attributes through a range of discussions and activities. We will seek to collaboratively explore the importance of graduate attributes and the extent to which different HEIs recognize this, and consider what the future holds for graduate attributes.

1. Queen Mary Academy
What next for graduate attributes?
Exploring institutional approaches to
embedding graduate attributes in the
curriculum
Dr Steph Fuller, Queen Mary Academy

2. Queen Mary Academy
Explore and share good practice around graduate attributes as an approach
to embedding employability within programmes of study, through
• Sharing experiences and approaches to working with graduate attributes
• Discussing the importance of graduate attributes within different
institutional contexts and the ways in which they are embedded
• Considering what the future holds for graduate attributes.
Workshop aims

3. Queen Mary Academy
‘the distinctive Queen Mary Graduate Attributes are embedded in all our
programmes, so that our students develop the knowledge, skills, adaptability and
resilience to succeed in an ever-changing global job market and become active
global citizens.’
Strategy 2030
Background: Queen Mary Graduate Attributes

4. Queen Mary Academy
Why were Graduate Attributes updated?
To ensure graduate
attributes are up to
date
To incorporate
student views
To align graduate
attributes to
Queen Mary values
& strategies
To enhance
development of
attributes and
support students
to better articulate
them
To contribute to
improved
outcomes for
students

5. Queen Mary Academy
'Graduate Attributes are the
knowledge, skills and behaviours
that Queen Mary students develop as a
result of their learning and
experiences at university.’
Updated Queen Mary Graduate Attributes

6. Queen Mary Academy
• 13 new attributes (to be kept under review)
• Aligned with Queen Mary Values
• Incorporating employability skills
• Co-created with students
• Reflecting disciplinary/interdisciplinary
requirements
Updated Queen Mary Graduate Attributes
Influences including:
Wong, B, Chiu, Y-L T, Copsey-Blake, M and Nikolopoulou, M (2022) ‘A mapping of graduate attributes:
What can we expect from UK university students?’, Higher Education Research and Development, 41
(4): 1340-1355. Available at: doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2021.1882405
Daubney, K (2022) ‘“Teaching employability is not my job!”: Redefining embedded employability from
within the higher education curriculum’, Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, 12 (1): 92-
106. Available at: doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-07-2020-0165

7. Queen Mary Academy
 How are staff supported to embed graduate attributes within
programmes?
 In what ways are graduate attributes promoted or highlighted
to students?
 How are students supported to reflect on or articulate their
graduate attributes?
Discussion: to what extent are graduate attributes
currently being promoted and how is this done?
Padlet
password:
attributes

8. Queen Mary Academy
Discussion: future of graduate attributes
 What do you think the future holds in terms of the continued
relevance of graduate attributes?
 What are the essential graduate attributes for the future?
How do we support students to develop these?
 What are the implications of AI for graduate attributes and
employability?
Padlet
password:
attributes

9. Queen Mary Academy
Conclusions: enhancing understanding of current
engagement with graduate attributes across
institutions?