Industry-driven criteria development of work-ready graduates in the Spatial Sciences

Abstract

Work integrated learning (WIL) programs are being built into all Curtin University courses by 2016 and are becoming progressively more common in other tertiary institutions throughout Australia and elsewhere. To ensure they are effective at developing more employable, work-ready graduates, they will need to be tailored to industry requirements and expectations. To this end, the criteria of a work-ready graduate were identified from over 40 participants within industry for two closely related disciplines in the Department of Spatial Sciences (Surveying and Geographic Information Science - GISc). A modified Delphi process was subsequently used to test for consensus and eliminate poorly represented criteria. Preliminary results were analysed and differences between the disciplines were explored. The perceived skill-levels of a cohort of students were also analysed, based on online gathering of their reflection, before, during and at the end of their WIL program. These results were compared with judgments made by their work-place supervisors. Findings are used for a better design of WIL programs, including learning activities and assessment practices that address industry requirements and improve student satisfaction.