Abstract
This is one in a series of case studies to enhance graduate employability.
The theme of this case study is:
• Generalist disciplines and employability
This case study on the context of generalist disciplines is based on interviews and focus groups with 22 people across the stakeholder groups of employed graduates, students in internships, educators, career development professionals and employers from one business, three private institutions and five different universities. It also incorporates data from the surveys and in-depth interviews/ focus groups described above.
Graduates from generalist disciplines are exposed to several disciplinary frameworks throughout their degree. In turn, graduates can be emboldened with a multi-disciplinary framework through which they experience and perceive others. As articulated by an educator, graduates who undertake a Bachelor of Arts “understand sociology, politics, international relations and policy. Graduates understand the complexity of issues such as domestic violence or Indigenous affairs. Even to the level of having conversations with people in the community where you will encounter stereotypes, our graduates know how to think about why people are like that in a more complex way without passing judgment, and in a way that is sensitive and important, and important in a world-changing way. These stereotypes are easily dismantled with more education.”
Case study aims and objectives
• Students – To increase awareness of the importance of engaging in employability initiatives and build-in formalised support for these initiatives.
• Higher Education – To develop well-rounded graduates with employability attributes.
• Employers – To provide continued learning opportunities for graduate employees from generalist disciplines.
The theme of this case study is:
• Generalist disciplines and employability
This case study on the context of generalist disciplines is based on interviews and focus groups with 22 people across the stakeholder groups of employed graduates, students in internships, educators, career development professionals and employers from one business, three private institutions and five different universities. It also incorporates data from the surveys and in-depth interviews/ focus groups described above.
Graduates from generalist disciplines are exposed to several disciplinary frameworks throughout their degree. In turn, graduates can be emboldened with a multi-disciplinary framework through which they experience and perceive others. As articulated by an educator, graduates who undertake a Bachelor of Arts “understand sociology, politics, international relations and policy. Graduates understand the complexity of issues such as domestic violence or Indigenous affairs. Even to the level of having conversations with people in the community where you will encounter stereotypes, our graduates know how to think about why people are like that in a more complex way without passing judgment, and in a way that is sensitive and important, and important in a world-changing way. These stereotypes are easily dismantled with more education.”
Case study aims and objectives
• Students – To increase awareness of the importance of engaging in employability initiatives and build-in formalised support for these initiatives.
• Higher Education – To develop well-rounded graduates with employability attributes.
• Employers – To provide continued learning opportunities for graduate employees from generalist disciplines.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Sydney |
| Publisher | Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching |
| Commissioning body | Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-76028-348-3 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
