Graduate attributes have been prominent in higher education for a few decades now. In an era of outcomes-based education, these graduate attributes guide the development, direction and intended outcomes of learning programmes, so that there is an alignment of all the learning, development and experiences that students have whilst at the University. The graduate attributes will form part of life and as preparation for life beyond their studies.

As per the NWU Teaching and Learning Strategy (2016-2020)143, graduate attributes describe the personal qualities, and academic, professional and practical knowledge and skills that the NWU values and supports its students to develop in a progressive manner throughout their studies by means of the formal curriculum as well as through their total learning experience. Graduate attributes are further tailored per programme design to be aligned with the exit level outcomes of a particular offering, considering the specific requirements of statutory and professional bodies where such bodies exist.

The University defines desired attributes in relation to the following six domains:

• Responsible and engaged members of society
• Knowledgeable, highly educated individuals and professionals
• Innovative, critical thinkers
• Principled leaders
• Effective communicators
• Skilled collaborators and team members

The activities focused on are:

• Providing support to supervisors across the institution on the implementation of postgraduate attributes by attending faculty meetings
• Plan training and workshops to support M&D students with reference to the graduate attributes.
• Continuous communication with faculties and student to ensure the implementation of relevant skills courses for M&Ds.

Below is a list of generic graduate attributes we are focusing on in 2025:

The HDSD team launched an awareness campaign to introduce and promote the support services available to faculties. The primary goal is to raise awareness of our presence within the University and to request invitations to faculty-hosted Masters and Doctoral (M&D) orientation sessions. The team resolved to host a general M&D Orientation, open to all Masters and Doctoral students across the University. This platform allows us to showcase the support provided by the Postgraduate Support Centre and our partner departments.

• To Introduce Institutional Resources – Familiarize new and returning M&D students with university policies, research facilities, and available academic support.
• To Encourage Collaboration – Engage various faculties, schools, and departments within NWU.
• To Enhance Research Readiness – Provide guidance on research methodology, proposal writing, and ethical considerations, supported by our higher degrees academic support programme.
• To Promote Academic and Professional Development – Highlight opportunities for networking, collaboration, and career advancement, facilitated by the higher degrees student development programme.
• To Build a Supportive Community – Foster connections among students, faculty, and administrative staff to encourage collaboration and peer support.

We have partnered with different departments for maximum support as follows:

• Thuso Resources to assist our M&D students with access to local and international resources
• Career Services and CTL
• Student Wellness Centre

We pride ourselves on the up-to-date PGSC website, which includes all our activities but most importantly the student life cycle. The one stop student life cycle helps our M&D students in navigating their postgraduate journey, from registration to graduation.

Master’s and PhD Student competitions

• Three Minutes Thesis(3MT) Competition
• Visualise Your Thesis™ (VYT) Competition:
  • NWU
  • University of Melbourne
• The Poster Presentation Competition