The Development of Appropriate Generic Skills in Research Intensive Higher Degree Students

There is significant evidence that an increasing proportion of chemical engineering graduates are continuing on to complete a research-based Masters or PhD programme. In this paper, we firstly present data collected over a 10-year period regarding the work placement of such research-based graduates within Australia at the completion of their higher level degree. While two-thirds of our graduates are placed in research positions, the remaining one third enter positions in engineering, management or the legal and financial professions. Around one half of Australian research-based graduates enter the private sector, a proportion slightly lower than that of comparable American graduates. Given this broad range of career destinations, it is imperative that universities provide research students with the opportunity to gain a broad range of generic skills. While intellectual rigour must remain the cornerstone of a research intensive degree, students should also gain experience in teamwork and leadership roles. They must develop effective oral and written communications skills and they must be capable of thinking outside the square. An understanding of sustain-ability issues, as well as environmental, health and safety regulations is also important. Finally, the proportion of females undertaking research-based postgraduate study is low. Improving the gender balance will require the postgraduate programme to foster a more collaborative environment and one in which feedback, both oral and written, is provided on a regular basis.