The Future of Education is Self-Directed Learning | Dr. Timothy Stafford...

Academic rigour and skills that matter The Bachelor of Arts allows you to build essential skills and connect with industry leaders through the following: A choice of 29 majors Combining your interests to create your own unique study experience - from data science with philosophy to ancient history with international relations Learning with world-leading researchers and teachers Building the research skills for further study in arts, humanities and social sciences Developing the technical skills in discipline-based research, analysis and communication that employers need Your Arts degrees have been designed in consultation with industry leaders, including Deloitte, Hays and EY - so you can be confident you’ll get the skills you need to succeed in today's workplace Vital transferable skills through the essential units in your degree As well as gaining specialist knowledge in your core area of interest, your degree’s essential units will see you develop skills including: Analysis Problem solving and critical thinking Data numeracy Digital communication Media literacy Video editing Intercultural awareness and communication For a complete list of skills you can earn in the Bachelor of Arts, see the Transferable Skills Framework. Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) Graduate with work experience You can get a head start on your career thanks to our award-winning Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) program, which integrates real-world practical experience into your degree. PACE connects you to our 3000 partner organisations around Australia and overseas. Learn more > The Arts Precinct The BA's Home on Campus On campus, you’ll be part of a vibrant community in our purpose-built Arts Precinct – one equipped with cutting edge facilities and tech thanks to leading industry partners. Discover more > Arts precinct courtyard outdoor area Arts precinct courtyard outdoor area Arts precinct roof top garden The BA Structure Bachelor of Arts Reimagined (02:00) Learn more about the unique structure of the BA. Course Learning Outcomes Visit the Course Handbook to see the BA structure in detail On successful completion you will be able to: Integrate recent and established theories and principles across a range of disciplines. Evaluate and apply recent and established principles and concepts in one or more disciplines. Apply methods of inquiry and analysis from within disciplines in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Critically analyse arguments, assumptions, concepts and data to make appropriate judgement. Independently identify and solve problems in the context of academic studies, work and/or community environments. Communicate knowledge and ideas effectively to peers, academic audiences, professionals and non-specialists. Use literacy, numeracy, digital and interpersonal skills to acquire, synthesise and communicate credible information in oral, written, graphic and visual forms. Identify opportunities for and plan future professional development through independent learning, self-reflection and critique. Interact and collaborate with others from diverse disciplines, backgrounds and cultures to achieve personal or common objectives. Apply high standards of ethical conduct to learning and research activities. Apply skills and knowledge from the classroom to professional contexts. The BA Transferable Skills Framework What is the BA Transferable Skills Framework? Transferable skills are those that can be applied across a range of careers and industries, and are highly valued by employers. Often referred to as ‘soft’ skills, they relate to how people go about doing what they do, and not the type of work they do. Despite being called ‘soft’, these skills are highly valued by employers because they help employees to cope with the rapidly changing world of work. Employers seek employees who can adapt to change, deal with uncertainty and make sound decisions. As part of the Faculty of Arts curriculum transformation 2019-2020, the Bachelor of Arts Transferable Skills Framework was designed in consultation with industry (including Deloitte, Hays and Ernst and Young), staff and students (including alumni). The Framework reflects the most relevant, sought after skills that employers look for in graduates. It showcases the diverse array of skills that Arts and Humanities graduates acquire and serves as a guide for learning design that assists the development of these skills. For a detailed explanation of the BA Transferable Skills Framework, please download the handout (PDF, 7.5MB) and/or watch the following video. Bachelor of Arts Reimagined (02:00) Watch the video to learn more about the BA Transferable Skills Framework. 6 core skills The Framework consists of six core skills - Think, Communicate, Engage, Adapt, Manage and Execute. Think Communicate Engage Adapt Manage Execute 24 sub-skills Within each of the 6 core skills are 4 sub-skills, creating a total of 24 sub-skills that make up the BA Transferable Skills Framework. The image below shows the complete list of sub-skills within their core skill categories. Transferable skills framework How do I use the BA Transferable Skills Framework to structure my degree? The BA Transferable Skills Framework is a useful tool to consult when deciding which units to enroll in. By identifying skills that are in demand by employers in the industry/field you wish to work in, you can make informed decisions about what units to take and how to structure your Bachelor of Arts to best meet your goals. To learn more about how to collect the skills you need based on your major/s, go to the BA Disciplines & Majors module below. How do I collect evidence about the skills I have earned along my BA journey? Structuring your degree program and collecting skills is only part of the process of developing a comprehensive skills portfolio that will support your future career goals. It is important to record and showcase your learning, work and personal experience and the associated skills you have acquired. Building a skills portfolio A skills portfolio is a collection of documents or artifacts that demonstrate an individual's skills, achievements, and experiences. It can include resumes, certificates, work samples, project reports, and other evidence of the individual's capabilities. The purpose of a skills portfolio is to showcase an individual's strengths and provide evidence of their expertise to potential employers. It can also be a useful tool for personal development, as it allows individuals to reflect on their strengths and areas for improvement. Below are some tools/approaches you can use to create your skills portfolio: Online platforms: There are several online platforms like LinkedIn, Behance, and GitHub that allow you to showcase your skills projects, and experience. These platforms offer templates and layouts that you can customise Website: Website builders like Wix and Squarespace allow you to create a personal website that showcases your skills, work samples, and accomplishments. They offer customisable templates and drag-and-drop editors that make it easy to create a visually appealing portfolio. Presentation tools: Tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides and Canva can be used to create a visual portfolio that includes images, text, and multimedia. You can use these tools to create a digital or physical presentation that you can share with others. Digital documents: You can also create a digital document such as a PDF or Word document, that showcases your skills and achievements. This can include a resume, cover letter, and work samples. When creating a skills portfolio, it's important to choose a tool that best suits your needs and allows you to showcase your skills and experience in the most effective way possible. Whichever tool you decide on, it should be something that you find convenient and easy to use as you will be updating it frequently. Collecting evidence to showcase your skills To show evidence that you have a skill, you can follow these steps: Identify the skill that you want to showcase. This could be a transferable skill like 'critical thinking', which one of the most prevalent skills you will attain from completing the BA. Provide a clear definition of the skill (you can use the skills definition from the BA Transferable Skills Framework) and describe what it means to you. This helps to demonstrate that you understand the skill and can apply it in different contexts. Give specific examples of how you have used the skill in your personal life , prior work experience, or from your unit assessments. This could be in the form of projects you have worked on, accomplishments you have achieved, or challenges you have overcome. Describe the impact of your use of the skill. This could include quantifiable results (eg. survey respondents) or qualitative benefits (eg. written feedback, testimonials) Use data and metrics to back up your claims, where possible. For example, if you are showcasing your data analysis skills, include graphs and charts that demonstrate your ability to interpret and communicate data effectively. By providing clear examples and demonstrating the impact of your skills, you can provide evidence that you have the skills that are required for the job or opportunity you are applying for. Evidencing skills through completing assessments framework icon Some of the most valuable skills are attainable through your unit assessments. This icon is used in iLearn units to signify assessments which are specifically aligned to the BA Transferable Skills Framework. Those assessments are ideal places for you to gather evidence against these skills. Look out for it in units you study! URL icon Transferable Skills Framework description handoutURL The BA Disciplines & Majors The BA Majors The Faculty of Arts is home to a passionate community of scholars committed to serving students and engaging the community through transformative education and world-leading research. Our interdisciplinary teaching seeks to stimulate positive change and address local, national and global challenges. Explore the iLearn Books below to learn more about the 29 majors in the Bachelor of Arts. Each major will contain a table identifying all the skills you can gain from taking any of the units in the major. Book icon Major in Ancient HistoryBook Book icon Major in AnthropologyBook Book icon Major in Applied EthicsBook Book icon Major in Chinese StudiesBook Book icon Major in Creative WritingBook Book icon Major in Croatian StudiesBook Book icon Major in CriminologyBook Book icon Major in EducationBook Book icon Major in EnglishBook Book icon Major in French and Francophone StudiesBook Book icon Major in Gender StudiesBook Book icon Major in GeographyBook Book icon Major in German StudiesBook Book icon Major in Indigenous StudiesBook Book icon Major in International RelationsBook Book icon Major in Italian StudiesBook Book icon Major in Japanese StudiesBook Book icon Major in Media, Culture and CommunicationsBook Book icon Major in Modern Greek StudiesBook Book icon Major in Modern HistoryBook Book icon Major in Music StudiesBook Book icon Major in Performing Arts and Entertainment IndustriesBook Book icon Major in PhilosophyBook Book icon Major in PoliticsBook Book icon Major in Psychological ScienceBook Book icon Major in Russian StudiesBook Book icon Major in Social JusticeBook Book icon Major in SociologyBook Book icon Major in Spanish and Latin American StudiesBook A note on Previous Majors The Majors listed above are those currently offered in the fully revised Bachelor of Arts course as published here: https://coursehandbook.mq.edu.au/2023/courses/C000004 As this course was implemented in 2020, there is a chance if you started earlier than this that you are enrolled in one of our previous majors which is not listed here. For your information, please choose the closest one to your major for information. THINK At the core of our success as a species is our ability to think. We experience, observe, conceive, contemplate, contextualise, conceptualise, reflect and decide. Human ability to think in the abstract provides us with a rare ability--imagination--which in turn paves the way for the ideas, creativity and innovation that is necessary for human progress. The THINK category of the BA Skills Framework encompasses 4 types of thinking skills that are especially prized in graduates of the Arts and Social Sciences. They are: Research and Analysis; Critical Thinking; Systems Thinking; and Reflective Thinking. Explore these skills, including examples, in more detail by clicking on the page links below. THINK (03:56) CommunicateTHINK SKILLS Page icon Research and AnalysisPage Page icon Critical ThinkingPage Page icon Systems ThinkingPage Page icon Reflective ThinkingPage COMMUNICATE Communication is the process of conveying meaning and information from a sender (or senders) to one or more recipients. Though this may sound simple, the act and process of communication is highly complex. The transmission of a message can be affected by a wide variety of factors such as tone, environment, culture, emotions and the particular mode of transmission. Good communicators are aware of their own communication styles, understand their audience and the message they need to convey, and are able to use appropriate ways of sharing information, knowledge and meaning. The COMMUNICATE category of the BA Skills Framework encompasses 4 types of communication skills that the BA seeks to develop. They are: Written and Verbal Skills; Digital Skills; Interpersonal Skills; and Influencing Skills. Explore these skills, including examples, in more detail by clicking on the page links below. COMMUNICATE (04:50) CommunicateCOMMUNICATE SKILLS Page icon Written and Verbal SkillsPage Page icon Digital SkillsPage Page icon Interpersonal SkillsPage Page icon Influencing SkillsPage ENGAGE A successful society is not just dependent on technological and scientific advances, but also on social innovation. Being aware and engaged with what is happening in the world around us provides opportunities for us to make contributions in our communities in terms of ideas, opinions and action. As our culturally diverse world becomes increasingly interconnected, political, economic, social and environmental decisions can have profound local and international effects. Civic engagement provides a strong foundation for a more democractic and ethical society. It is an integral mechanism for promoting greater accountability and transparency in the laws, policies and processes that affect our lives. It encourages us to be participants in our community and to understand our privilege, power and influence. Whether its taking part in a census, voting and encouraging others to vote, contacting your local Member of Parliament about an important issue in your local community, or raising awareness about an ethical issue in another part of the world, civic engagement and participation in civic processes allows us to make our individual and/or collective voices heard on issues that matter. The ENGAGE category of the BA Skills Framework encompasses 4 types of engagement skills that are especially prized in graduates of the Arts and Social Sciences. They are: Ethical Responsibility; Self and Social Responsibility; Civic and Global Citizenship, and Intercultural Experience. Explore these skills, including examples, in more detail by clicking on the page links below. ENGAGE (04:03) CommunicateENGAGE SKILLS Page icon Ethical ResponsibilityPage Page icon Self and Social ResponsibilityPage Page icon Civic and Global CitizenshipPage Page icon Intercultural ExperiencePage ADAPT Adaptability is the ability to evaluate a situation, need or problem, and then adjust to the roles, tasks and responses required in the situation. It is often synonymous with flexibility. Adaptable individuals are open to change and innovation, and are comfortable with new ideas. In a work culture, this means having an open and inquiring mind, not being rigid in thought, adjusting quickly to new situations, communicating effectively and possessing a willingness to learn. The ADAPT category of the BA Skills Framework encompasses 4 types of thinking skills that are especially prized in graduates of the Arts and Social Sciences. They are: Creativity and Imagination; Innovation and Problem Solving, Design Thinking; and Entrepreneurship. Explore these skills, including examples, in more detail by clicking on the page links below. ADAPT (03:44) CommunicateADAPT SKILLS Page icon Creativity and ImaginationPage Page icon Innovation and Problem-SolvingPage Page icon Design ThinkingPage Page icon EntrepreneurshipPage MANAGE Bringing together an array of different skill sets is the ability to manage oneself and others. Management skills comprise abilities and attributes that allow an individual to successfully oversee personal or professional projects and tasks within pre-determined parameters. Good managers can not only call on their discipline-specific and technical expertise, but also utilise excellent organisation, planning and interpersonal skills to successfully complete projects. In addition, managers are also required to direct their teams with integrity and fairness. The MANAGE category of the BA Skills Framework encompasses 4 types of engagement skills that are especially prized in graduates of the Arts and Social Sciences. They are: Planning, Project Management, Data Management and Teamwork. Explore these skills, including examples, in more detail by clicking on the page links below. MANAGE (03:44) MANAGEMANAGE SKILLS Page icon PlanningPage Page icon Project ManagementPage Page icon Data ManagementPage Page icon TeamworkPage EXECUTE Skills and professional experience stemming from the Arts and Social Sciences allow for more than just being knowledgeable. It also means being able to do something with what you know; to carry out decisions and plans successfully. Having researched and organised the necessary precursors to deliver on a project or task, BA graduates have the capacity to implement action. They can do this through successful teamwork. They can lead, inspire, motivate and mentor others through personal and professional development. An additional attribute of the modern BA graduate is to integrate sustainability into their execution of plans. Success does not occur at the expense of sustainability. Incorporating sustainable management practices involves being aware of and sensitive to the ethical management of resources (eg. human, financial and environmental). The EXECUTE category of the BA Skills Framework encompasses 4 types of engagement skills that are especially prized in graduates of the Arts and Social Sciences. They are: Leadership; Mentoring; Implement and Apply; and Sustainable Practice. Explore these skills, including examples, in more detail by clicking on the page links below. EXECUTE (01:51) CommunicateEXECUTE SKILLS Page icon LeadershipPage Page icon MentoringPage Page icon Implement and ApplyPage Page icon Sustainable PracticePage Reflective writing resources Page icon A note about ReflectionPage Templates for Writing Reflections File icon ACTIVITY TEMPLATEFile 83.2 KB File icon APPLICATION CARD TEMPLATEFile 83.2 KB File icon MINUTE PAPER TEMPLATEFile 83.0 KB File icon CRITICAL INCIDENT TEMPLATEFile 82.9 KB Template for Evidence File icon UNPACK YOUR FEEDBACKFile 83.6 KB File icon EVIDENCE OF WORKFile 82.8 KB application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.template Templates for Note Taking File icon concept map - StudywiseFile 126.1 KB PDF document File icon Cornell Notetaking - StudywiseFile 169.7 KB PDF document Templates for Videos Reflections File icon VIDEO NOTE TAKING WORKSHEETFile 83.3 KB