Developing graduate attributes through extra-curricular activities

Developing graduate attributes through extra-curricular activities

The New England Award Dr Robyn Muldoon

Aim:

To recognise and reward students’ personal and professional development through extra-curricular activity

New England Award, University of New England, NSW, Australia

Requirements:Completion of approved activities + demonstrated commitment and success Three categories of activityRecord of activities in e-portfolio1,000 points


1,000 points + credit GPA +Reflective journal

= New England Award

(awarded at graduation ceremonies)

1,000 points = New England Certificate


Categories of NEA activity :

•Extra-curricular learning and training•Professional development•Community contribution (University and local community through informal collaboration with outside organisations)



Development

Survey

All areas within the University that offered programs and activities for students which provided training and development that were not part pf degree programs.


•Website•Advertising material •Forms •Checklist •Reflective journal guidelines


Reflective journal guidelines

•How were each of the seven UNE Graduate Attributes enhanced through your extra-curricular activities in your NEA? How did this occur?

•What other skills and attributes did you develop/enhance?

•Have you grown as a person as a result of undertaking extra-curricular activities throughout the NEA? If so, how?


•Would you like to be involved in similar activities after graduation and why? How might this happen?

•In what ways have the activities that you participated in throughout the NEA program helped prepare you for life after university?

•Include any other information you feel is relevant about your personal and professional growth while undertaking the New England Award.


UNEGraduate Attributes

•Communication Skills•Global Perspective •Information Literacy •Lifelong Learning •Problem Solving •Social Responsibility •Teamwork


Tricky bits

•Reaching of consensus about points values for different activities between like groups and vice versa•Division of workload•Gaining support of other staff•UNE Council•Insurance matters


CollaborationsCharities, church groups, arts societies, service clubs, advocacy organisations, environmental groups.National organizations eg Amnesty International; Australian Red Cross; Cancer Council; Earth Hour; Girl Guides Australia; Landcare; Lifeline; Lifesaving Australia; National Trust; Oxfam; RSPCA; Salvation Army; Scouts Australia; St John’s Ambulance; St Vincent de Paul Society; Sustainable Living Australia.


The NEA also has links with numbers of School Councils; Parents and Citizens Committees; Pre-school Management Committees; Neighbourhood Groups and Church groups across Australia.


International collaborations : United Nations; UNICEF; Government of Timor Leste; American Samoa Power Authority; Swedish Institute; Bermuda Maritime Museum; American School of Classical Studies; and the Museum of Ancient Corinth.

We have volunteer English teachers in Japan, Nepal, Russia and Germany.


Local region : Armidale & District Women’s Centre; Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre; Centacare New England; New England Harmony Group; New England Regional Art Gallery; New England Sustainability Youth Group; Saumarez House (Historic Trust); Armidale Symphony Orchestra; Armidale & District Historical Society; Armidale Dumaresq Council and the Armidale Volunteer Referral Service.


Specific aims

•Support UNE Graduate Attributes policy

•Promote the special UNE on-campus experience

(since expanded)

•Student engagement

•Personal development & self knowledge•Critical reflection on personal journeys•Graduate attributes•Interpersonal skills, initiative, enterprise•Altruism


Outcomes

•Enhanced employability•Valued by employers


•UNE Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching for outstanding inter-disciplinary innovation.


Achievements

•ALTC Citation awarded to the NEA Team Leader for leadership in the development of the New England Award, an innovative program which fosters students’ personal and professional development at university through extra-curricular activity.


PublicationsLeece, R. & Muldoon, R. (2009). "Degrees of Delight: Two approaches to increasing student satisfaction at university." Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (34): 27-45.Muldoon, R. (2006). The New England Award: Developing graduate attributes through extra-curricular activity. Communication Skills in University Education Conference: Intercultural Communications Across University Settings. J. Van Heyligers. Auckland, New Zealand, Pearson Education, .Muldoon, R. (2007). Developing students’ citizenship skills through recognition of

voluntary community work. Citizenship Education in Society. A. Ross, (ed). London, CiCe: 159-168.

Muldoon, R. (2007). "The New England Award: Providing student development opportunities through cross-campus and external collaboration." Asia- Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education 8(2): 149-162.Muldoon, R. (2008). "Recognising and rewarding the contribution and personal development of peer supporters at university." Journal of Further and Higher Education 32(3): 207-219.


Muldoon, R. (2008). Vignette: Graduate Attributes and Extra-Curricular Activity. ACEN. Brisbane, Queensland University of Technology: 57 (www.acen.edu.au).Muldoon, R. (2009). "The New England Award: Recognising students' personal and

professional development through extra-curricular activity." Powision: Magasin am Institut fur Politikwissenschaft 'Engagier dich!' Grenzen und Moglichkeiten studentischen Engagements (2): 39-40.Muldoon, R. (2009). "Recognising the enhancement of graduate attributes and employability through part-time work while at university " Active Learning in Higher Education. 10(3): 237-252.Muldoon, R. (2010). The New England Award: Empowering and rewarding students'

talents. Fifth European Conference on the First Year Experience. Plantijn Hogeschool University College, Antwerp, belgium.

Muldoon, R. (2010). Tertiary student leadership training: A case study. Lifelong Learning and Active Citizenship. P. Cunningham and N. Fretwell. London, CiCe: 593-601.Muldoon, R., Evans, J. & Zikan, A., (Submitted 2011). Preparing university students

for employment through extra-curricular development, Journal for Teaching and Learning for Graduate Employability.



Any questions?

Documents

Developing graduate attributes through extra-curricular activities