HDR Students

Undertaking a PhD is a life-changing experience that will enable you to not only develop extensive expertise, but a range of significant skill sets. At Flinders, we have captured these skills in the Doctoral Graduate Attributes as a way of enabling students to identify, develop and apply them.

The Doctoral Graduate Attributes were developed to support the development and recognition of the transferrable skills of research students in order to enhance their ability to enter multiple career pathways and to enhance the university-industry collaborations. The Graduate Attributes are used as the framework for training, mapping all available topics and skills to the attributes. Please read and familiarise yourself with the Graduate Attributes via the link below. 

The Graduate Attributes help to:

• develop, recognise and demonstrate core skills
• provide a framework that clarifies competencies to students and supervisors
• provide a basis to identify relevant activities, goals and development options
• allow students to demonstrate their competence to pursue a career
• act as a statement for external audiences about what skills set our doctoral graduates posses
• provide a framework to service providers on key training and development
• provide clarity for potential employers about what transferrable skills doctoral graduates will bring to their organisation.

You can tailor the development of the Doctoral Graduate Attributes to suit your existing experience and skill sets, including through candidature-related activities such as supervisory meetings, projects and participating in conferences. Flinders also offers engaging online development programs through REST workshops and activities, and experiences such as internships, mentoring, networking and community outreach, enabling you to develop the attributes in the way that best supports your career aspirations.  

As you develop the attributes, you will also be able to track and create a record of your skill sets through the Inspire Skills Development Module tool, so that you can take with you when you graduate.