OCSLD support for implementing the
Strategy for Enhancing the Student Experience
Implementing the Strategy for Enhancing the Student Experience 2010-15
The Strategy for Enhancing the Student Experience (SESE) 2010-15 (linked to pdf) represents an important articulation of how we will ensure that learning and teaching at Brookes will continue to be at the leading edge.
Oxford Brookes Graduate and Postgraduate Attributes
The SESE outlines much that is familiar and distinctive about the Brookes curriculum through the specification of five core graduate attributes:
Show/hide graduate attribute table
Graduate attributes |
Postgraduate attributes |
Academic literacy |
Disciplinary and professional knowledge and skills, understanding the epistemology and ‘landscape’ of the discipline, and what it means to think and behave as a member of that disciplinary and/or professional community of practice. |
Advanced disciplinary and professional knowledge and skills moving beyond the emerging professional to becoming an expert member of the relevant community.
This should include the ability to engage in current critical debates within the discipline and the ability to communicate complex ideas to both expert and non-expert audiences, even in the absence of a complete set of data. |
Research literacy |
Ability to be a critical consumer of research, and also, where possible, to design and undertake at least a small-scale research project in the discipline, using appropriate methodology.
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The ability to design and undertake a research project in the discipline, use appropriate methodology and solve complex problems in novel situations. Awareness of current research within the discipline, and the ability to critically evaluate it. |
Critical self awareness and personal literacy |
Understanding how one learns, the ability to assess the work of oneself and others, and to identify one’s strengths and weaknesses. The ability to organise oneself and perform as an autonomous, effective and independent learner.
The ability to relate to other people and function collaboratively in diverse groups, including the development of appropriate interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and adaptive expertise.
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Demonstrate commitment to continuous self-improvement. To include the ability to lead and organise self and others; take personal responsibility in unpredictable and complex situations; make sound and appropriate decisions; to inspire and interact with others in diverse environments. |
Digital and information literacy |
The functional access, skills and practices necessary to become a confident, agile adopter of a range of technologies for personal, academic and professional use.
To be able to use appropriate technology to search for high-quality information; critically to evaluate and engage with the information obtained; reflect on and record learning, and professional and personal development; and engage productively in relevant online communities.
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The functional access, skills and practices necessary to become a confident,agile adopter of a range of technologies for personal, academic and professional use.
To be able to use appropriate technology to search for high-quality information; critically to evaluate and engage with the information obtained; reflect on and record learning, and professional and personal development; and engage productively in relevant online communities. |
Global citizenship |
Knowledge and skills, showing cross-cultural awareness, and valuing human diversity. The ability to work effectively, and responsibly, in a global context.
Knowledge of global perspectives on how disciplinary knowledge is represented and understood within other cultures; cross-cultural capability beginning with an awareness of our own culture and perspectives and the development of the confidence to question one’s own values and those of others responsibly and ethically; and responsible citizenship, actively engaging with issues of equity and social justice, sustainability and the reduction of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination.
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Knowledge and skills, showing cross-cultural awareness, and valuing human diversity. The ability to work effectively, and responsibly, in a global context.
Knowledge of global perspectives on how disciplinary knowledge is represented and understood within other cultures; cross-cultural capability beginning with an awareness of our own culture and perspectives and the development of the confidence to question one’s own values and those of others responsibly and ethically; and responsible citizenship, actively engaging with issues of equity and social justice, sustainability and the reduction of prejudice, stereotyping and discrimination |
Download a copy of the graduate (PDF 438KB) and postgraduate (PDF 98KB) attributes.
Taken together, a curriculum that provides opportunities for students to develop these attributes should enable them to develop skills that enhance their employability and potential contribution to society.
The SESE also makes a number of other important commitments:
- to engage students in shaping their learning experience
- for all staff who support student learning to undertake annual continuing professional development related to their teaching and/or support of learning
- to conduct evaluations of our pedagogic developments (OCSLD also offers consultancy and events for those conducting pedagogic research and welcome commissions for further evaluative work. See wiki.brookes.ac.uk/display/pedres).
OCSLD is offering a suite of staff development resources, events and consultancy to support the implementation of the Strategy for Enhancing the Student Experience.
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Workshops to explore the graduate attributes
Awareness raising sessions and workshops are an opportunity to discuss what each attribute means in the context of your subject and consider how it might be taught, practised and assessed. You can ask your OCSLD Link Developer for a general overview session or a workshop around a single graduate attribute, perhaps as part of a Faculty or Department meeting or away day.
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Online resource collections
The Graduate Attributes in Action wiki has links to case studies, tools and templates from Brookes staff on how each of the attributes are taught, practiced and assessed. We are developing resources to assist staff with information about and tools for working with Graduate Attributes. These include PowerPoint presentations, case studies of Graduate Attributes in action and tools and templates for mapping graduate attributes across programmes. They are available in the RADAR Teaching Collection. To retrieve them, login to RADAR as a Brookes user, visit the Teaching Collection and Browse the Graduate Attributes category.
You may have good examples or case studies of your own to add to the RADAR collection. If you do want to contribute a resource, contact the RADAR project manager, Steve Burholt.
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Programme design initiatives
The course design intensives (CDIs) bring together staff and students to plan for the development of one or more of the graduate attributes across a programme. You can arrange a CDI for programme teams who are preparing for redesign, accreditation or validation.
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Consultancy and action learning sets
are for individuals and small groups who want to develop personally and also take action linked to the SESE. For example, you might want to review your current arrangements for student participation and representation or bring together a group of staff with similar roles e.g. programme leads or interests e.g. digital literacy. OCSLD can provide a facilitator to start up and initially support the group.
Continuing Personal and Professional Development
OCSLD can provide guidance on addressing the requirement to undertake personal and professional development related to teaching and/or supporting learning, including the peer enhancement of learning and teaching and professional dialogue.
For further details, to discuss your requirements or make a booking, please contact the OCSLD developer for your Faculty or Directorate.



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