The ‘STAR’ Award: Recognising
Student Learning &
Contribution to University Life
Dr Joy Perkins
Educational & Employability Development Adviser
What does the STAR Award involve?
• Participating in a specified Students’ Association role, oncampus support role or community volunteering role.
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Undertaking two workshops on skills development and
interview technique.
Engaging in at least one elective personal development
workshop.
Maintaining an ePortfolio-based reflective diary.
Undertaking an assessed competency-based interview to
measure achievement of Aberdeen Graduate Attributes.
Which Aberdeen Graduate Attributes
are assessed?
• An ability to communicate effectively for
different purposes and in different contexts
• An ability to work independently and as part of
a team
• A capacity for self-reflection, self-discovery
and personal development
• A diverse set of transferable and generic skills
• An awareness of personal strengths and
weaknesses
STAR Data 2013-14 (College)
STAR Award Data 2013-14
Most popular roles
• Society/Sports Club Committee
member – 43 students
• Society/Sports Club
President/Captain – 30 students
• Class Representative – 29 students
What are the distinguishing lifewide
learning features of the Award?
Bespoke
competency-based
interviews
Hierarchical
assessment framework
– bronze, silver and
gold awards
ePortfolio use – Record
of activity, skills audit and
reflection
Recognises cocurricular learning,
development and
achievement
Alignment with
employability-focused
Graduate Attributes
Employer participation
throughout the Award
to provide specialist
advice
In conclusion we believe the STAR Award:
•
Is unique
•
Develops students’ employability
•
Enhances the student experience through recognising
and rewarding co-curricular lifewide learning
www.abdn.ac.uk/careers/co-curriculum/staraward/
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