Glasgow Caledonian University
PhD Research Project Opportunity
Please note that as this project is not funded by a University studentship, the successful candidate will be
required to source external funding for the research degree fees and living expenses while studying at the
university.
Project Reference Number
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2014GSBS013
School/Institute/Research Group
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Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning
Research Discipline
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Higher Education
Research Theme
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Education
Project Title
Implementing and Assessing Graduate Attributes: Putting the theories into
practice
Research Project Summary
Over the last decade there has been a serious interest in graduate attributes
in higher education. Much of the research (Jones 2009, Barrie 2006) explores
the conceputalisation of graduate attributes. However the implementation
and assessment continues to be a challenging prospect.
This project
examines the means by which graduate attributes can be effectively
implemented in a university context at both postgraduate and undergraduate
level. It considers this from the perspective of university policy makers,
teaching staff and students. As teaching and assessment are inextricably
linked, this project also considers the ways in which graduate attributes can
be most effectively assessed.
The project considers both the theoretical and practice aspects of the
implementation of graduate attributes from a policy and teaching perspective.
It considers the needs of a range of stakeholders – senior management,
teaching staff, students and employers. It explores a range of possible
approaches to the implementation and assessment of graduate attributes and
the ways in which the theoretical understandings can be brought to bear to
provide a framework or set of frameworks for the implementation, teaching
and assessment of graduate attributes.
The project will involve a scoping of approaches to implementation and
assessment and an indepth examination of the needs of the stakeholders. It
will also provide clear evidence to inform higher education policy and practice
which will, in the longer term, have an impact on teaching, student learning
and employment possibilities.
Supervisory Team
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

Staff Contact
Dr Anna Jones, Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning
http://www.crll.org.uk/staff/staff/drannajones/
Professor David Smith, Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning
http://www.crll.org.uk/staff/staff/davidsmith/
Professor Jackie Tombs http://www.gcu.ac.uk/issjr/welcome/staff/
Anna Jones
Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning
Glasgow Caledonian University
Anna.jones@gcu.ac.uk