Graduate Attributes Projects
Our Projects/Collaborations
We have been working with academics on several projects related to doctoral education. You can find out more about them below.
Graduate Outcomes – are they driving learning?
A comparative study of doctoral outcomes in PhD graduates from US and NZ universities
COVID-19 impacts on the careers and mobility of doctoral graduates from NZ universities
Graduate Outcomes – are they driving learning?
Rachel Spronken-Smith, Simon Barrie, Margaret Leonards Martin Jenkins, Carol Bond, Martine Darrou, Stanley Frielick, Stephen Marshall
An 18-month project to explore policy and practice related to graduate outcomes in higher education institutions in New Zealand. A collaboration involving University of Otago, University of Sydney, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Victoria University of Wellington.
Learn more about Rachel Spronken-Smith
Learn more about Simon Barrie
Learn more about Margaret Leonard
Learn more about Martin Jenkins
Learn more about Carol Bond
Learn more about Martine Darrou
Learn more about Stanley Frielick
Learn more about Stephen Marshall
A comparative study of doctoral outcomes in PhD graduates from US and NZ universities
Rachel Spronken-Smith, Kim Brown, Claire Cameron
With increasing focus on the outcomes of doctoral education, especially regarding employability, we aimed to explore how PhD graduates from humanities and social sciences (HASS), and science disciplines perceived the development of a holistic set of graduate attributes during their doctoral study and the application of these attributes in the workplace.
We analysed 136 survey responses and interviews with 21 PhD graduates from one NZ and two US universities. We found that overall, PhD graduates are satisfied with their development as researchers, but had concerns regarding the development of some transferrable skills and attributes.
Graduates from the three universities perceived the application of attributes in the workplace similarly. Comparisons of graduate attribute application to their development revealed the following areas requiring better support: teamwork, communication, project management, entrepreneurship, and networking.
While development of affective attributes related to global citizenship was lower than expected, graduates perceived these were not always required in the workplace. Universities should consider how their doctoral training programmes can promote a more holistic development of desirable skills and attributes.
Learn more about Rachel Spronken-Smith
Learn more about Kim Brown
Learn more about Claire Cameron
COVID-19 impacts on the careers and mobility of doctoral graduates from NZ universities
Rachel Spronken-Smith, Kim Brown, Claire Cameron, Kay Weaver, Tracy Riley, Megan McAuliffe
A survey captured the employment and mobility situations of doctoral graduates from 2019 to early 2021 from six of the eight universities in NZ. The 406 survey responses were analysed using descriptive statistics, as well as drawing on Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) theory in an inductive analysis of freeform comments.
Most respondents were aspiring to academic careers, but the pandemic led to the loss of job offers for 19.2% and altered career plans for 60.6%. Family circumstances impacted career decisions for 21.4% and these were complicated by mobility difficulties with border closures and visa issues. The impacts of the pandemic on careers were significantly greater for international graduates.
The qualitative analysis revealed themes of uncertainty, complications, pragmatism and academia. Using CIP, it is apparent that the pandemic has created a more complex job environment and heightened stress and anxiety over career and mobility options. As shown in our conceptual model, NZ universities need to better prepare graduates for the landscape of career possibilities, making students aware of their attributes, supporting their wellbeing, and helping them navigate the complexity of the current job environment.
Learn more about Rachel Spronken-Smith
Learn more about Kim Brown
Learn more about Claire Cameron
Learn more about Kay Weaver
Learn more about Tracy Riley
Learn more about Megan McAuliffe