Graduate Attributes in Higher Education in Australia

This review of literature focuses on the analysis and evaluation of the graduate attributes for the higher education in Australia. It discusses the current trends in higher education in Australia, the concept of graduate attributes, and the evaluation of critical thinking, problem-solving, self-assessment, communication, and leadership skills. The review also analyzes the current needs of businesses and concludes that communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills are the most important graduate attributes that employers look for.

Running head: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Business Communication Skills
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of Higher Education in Australia......................................................................................2
Concept of Graduate Attributes.......................................................................................................3
Evaluation of the Graduate Attributes in Higher Education in Australia........................................3
Critical Thinking Skills................................................................................................................5
Problem Solving skills.................................................................................................................5
Self Assessment skills..................................................................................................................6
Communication Skills..................................................................................................................6
Leadership Skills..........................................................................................................................7
Analysis of the current needs of the business..................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
A review of literature is basically the summary as well the explanation of the complete and the
current state of knowledge which is found on the secondary sources of information which
includes the articles, journals etc. The review of literature is also defined as the reviews and
opinions of the past researchers and scholars who could be able to analyze and evaluate
secondary information regarding the specific topic area. The purpose of the review of literature
should be the starting point for the researcher in order to evaluate, summarize and comprising the
original research n that particular area (Ohgaki & Kleihues, 2013). It should be able to encourage
the future researchers to carry on and rediscover something to the existing research. It should be
highlighting the key findings and identifies the gap in the literature for the topic to be illustrated
as well. The review of literature is focused on the analysis and the evaluation of the graduate
attributes for the higher education in Australia.
Analysis of Higher Education in Australia
According to Ohgaki & Kleihues, (2013) the higher education consultants in Australia have
reviewed the current trends for the higher education in Australia. The higher education in
Australia is having a great change in the last decade or so. With the advancement of technology
and changes in the educational structure, the higher education in Australia has got high demand
currently and also it should have high demand in the future as well. The market style and the
competition in the higher education in Australia will be getting changed and this results in
meeting the business requirements for making the higher education to be effective for the
students or the graduates of Australia as well (Ohgaki & Kleihues, 2013). Australia has now
become one of the global leaders in both the recruitment and the retention of the students who

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are seeking to have an international experience. In the last 5 years the online education in
Australia has enhanced at a rapid pace having the revenues to be expected more than $3.3
million. The online higher education in Australia has changed a lot and it has been expanded due
to the rise of unemployment and the expected economic recovery. There are more than 20
universities in Australia who are offering online classes in Australia. There are 50 percent of the
graduates liked the online materials offered by the higher educational institutes in Australia.
There are 30 percent of the graduates liked by the traditional coursework for the higher education
in Australia. It is seen that there are around 5 million enrolments which is said to be there in
2014. With the competition in the Australian market and the changes in the lifestyles of the
students and the people living in Australia, the higher education in Australia is becoming much
more attractive.
Concept of Graduate Attributes
In accordance with Chaudhri, (2016) the attributes are defined as the skills and the characteristics
of the graduates who are fascinated to do higher education in Australian universities. The
Australian graduates need to develop the proper skills and knowledge in pursuing the higher
education in the top most and renowned Australian universities present in the educational field.
Evaluation of the Graduate Attributes in Higher Education in Australia
According to Dillman, Smyth & Christian, (2014) the research could be one of the most
important attributes which has been applied in the higher education in Australia. There are
individuals who are involved in doing the various types of researches depending on the
authenticity and the validity and the type of information the students should be gathered in order
to meet the academic as well as meeting the business needs as well. The common attribute for

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the graduates in the Higher Education in Australia should be doing research by collection
specific and logical information in order to meet the needs of the business.
In case of primary information, it is the unpublished material which indicates that the material is
developed by the researchers and they are published in the original format. The sources of
primary information could be the questionnaires, interviews, observations, databases, archives,
correspondence, works of art, meetings etc (Dillman, Smyth & Christian, 2014). It is said that for
designing out interviewing and questionnaires the open search strategies, closed search strategies
and mixed search strategies are used. There are four stages by which the development of the
research and the research and inquiry skills could be improved. This includes the collation of the
data, testing of the survey, introduction of the survey and checking the accuracy of the survey.
In case of secondary information, they are the interpreting the primary information. According to
Dillman, Smyth & Christian, (2014) the material which is published in the past is said to be the
secondary research. The sources of secondary information are books, journals, newspapers,
government documents which could be the in the format of electronic or websites. In case of
tertiary information, the material which synthesis and will be summarizing the primary and the
secondary information. The examples could be the encyclopedias, manuals, databases and the
journal abstracts.
According to Cheney & Weaver, (2015) the graduates should be focusing on the development
and the application of the paper based and the electronic sources of information so that the
graduates could be able to involve and improve their quality of higher education in Australia.
The paper based sources of information could be permanent, portable, tangible and can be
annotated quickly which is useful in the development of the proper education in Australia.

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Critical Thinking Skills
According to Henderson, Cheney & Weaver, (2015) the critical thinking skill is one of the most
important attributes for the graduates to be developed for the higher education to be successful.
The graduates need to be maintaining the criteria for the improvement in their critical thinking
skills. According to Malyuga & Tomalin, (2017) it interprets the evidence accurately. It should
be identifying the salient arguments for and against for the improvement of the critical thinking
skills. It evaluates the opinions of others on alternate points or opinions. It justifies conclusions
which are clearly based on the explained reasons. It presents the ideas in a coherent way, clear
and it in a technical way. It is necessary to use both fact and opinion in the essay as in essay this
will be performing solid research into the area of the study (Henderson, Cheney & Weaver,
2015). This is also useful in presenting originality in the ideas and knowledge depicted in the
form (Redman & Maples, 2017). This will help in gaining proper insights and developing
controversies in the area of research study.
Problem Solving skills
According to Wingate, (2012) the problem solving is also the important attribute which is
required for the graduates to be used effectively for having effective higher education. The
problem solving attributes are useful in developing and identifying the problems faced by the
graduates in dealing with the problems and the issues. The problem solving skills are useful in
effectively using the critical thinking skills in dealing with the issues. The critical thinking and
the problem solving are related to each other. The graduates having god critical thinking skills
could be able to analyze and evaluate the problems in a proper and comprehensive way. The

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critical thinking is said to be one of the tools in identifying and assessing the problems for the
graduates which is influencing the students to critically solve the problems (Wingate, 2012).
Self Assessment skills
According to Moshiri & Cardon, (2014) the self assessment is basically the assessing of the
problems and the activities which are undertaken by the graduates in order to improve their
potential in undertaking higher education in Australian universities. It is also obvious that the
assessing self is help in identifying the gaps in the knowledge of the students. It should be
encouraging the students to examine their own levels of learning and the understanding. This is
useful in the identification and the development of the areas which should be requiring the
improvement for the students. The self assessment skill is important in planning for the career in
the future for the students.
Communication Skills
The graduate communication skills have been one of the most serious issues for the students
studying in the Australian universities. The universities in Australia have been attempting to
address the communication issues for the Australian graduates so that they can become capable
of studying higher education in Australian universities (Moshiri & Cardon, 2014). According to
Ohgaki & Kleihues, (2013) there are more than 40 percent of the employers found it difficult
recruiting the graduates from the particular disciplines last year due to the ineffective and poor
communication skills they possess. There are nearly one third of the employers trying to recruit
graduates from the Australian universities due to the high quality of education to be perceived by
them. There are nearly 13 percent of the employers preferred sourcing the graduates from the
Australian universities is due to the good relationship with the university but now due to the
effective communication skills (Ohgaki & Kleihues, 2013). So the Australian universities need to

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be developing constant efforts in making the students aware that they need to be developing and
improving the communication skills both verbal and written in order to start their career with a
hike. This is important that the Australian graduates should be improving on their
communication skills in order to have proper communication with their peers and the seniors
present in the management of the universities.
The students studying the higher education want that they should be hired by some top most
organizations in the future. So in order to get and start in any huge and reputed organizations, the
graduates need to have proper communication as well the listening skills. This is important that
there is the urgent need of developing the communication skills for making the graduates
professionals (Moshiri & Cardon, 2014). The effective reading, writing and listening skills are
very important in improving the communication skills for the graduates.
Leadership Skills
According to Malyuga & Tomalin, (2017) the leadership skills are important and essential in
building a professional career for the graduates studying in universities of Australia. The
leadership skills in the graduates develops the sense of responsibility for them which affects
positively to the people they are communicating with. It should be developing confidence among
the people who are trying to interact with them. The leadership skills also helps in sharpen the
problem solving skills of the graduates by which they can be able to deal with their professional
issues in the future when they will get employed. The graduates should be able to inspire the
team or the individuals when they will start their professional career.

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Analysis of the current needs of the business
According to Dillman, Smyth & Christian, (2014) for the development of the business, the
business employers need to identify and assess the attributes of the graduates before they start
their career in the professional field. The business requirements are changing day to day due to
the increase in the competition and the complex needs of the employers and increasing
expectations of the business. It is very much essential that the employers need to recruit and
select those graduates who have the specific attributes in them in order to start their professional
career. It is quite obvious that for meeting the current needs and demands of the business, the
most common and desired attribute for the graduates could be the communication skills. Each
and every employer of any business organizations want that the graduates recruited should have
the excellent communication with the reading, writing and the listening skills to be there (Mai &
Hoffmann, 2014). It is important that the employers also want the graduates to have good
problem solving skills as problems are the part of any organizations. So the employers should be
looking for the graduates who are able to deal and solve the complex issues. In accordance with
Alzahrani, Salim & Abraham, (2012) the last but not the least the employer should be looking for
are the leadership skills in the graduates. In business organizations due to the changes in the
structure of the business, changes in the business environment and high competition, the
employees could not be able to cope with this changing environment. The organizations need
good leaders who can be able to inspire and motivate the individuals working in organizations
and leaders can meet the actual requirements of the business.

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Conclusion
From the review of literature it is concluded that the leadership, communication as well the
problem solving skills are the most important graduate attributes which the business employers
looks for. It concludes with the fact that the Australian universities are poor in developing proper
communication skills for the graduates. They are trying hard to improve the communicant skills
for the individuals so that they can start their professional career for the future. It is evident that
research is useful for the graduates in making them eligible for starting their professional career
with fun and enjoyment.

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References
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patterns, textual features, and detection methods. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man,
and Cybernetics, Part C (Applications and Reviews), 42(2), 133-149.
Chaudhri, V. (2016). Corporate social responsibility and the communication imperative:
Perspectives from CSR managers. International Journal of Business
Communication, 53(4), 419-442.
Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode
surveys: the tailored design method. John Wiley & Sons.
Henderson, A., Cheney, G., & Weaver, C. K. (2015). The role of employee identification and
organizational identity in strategic communication and organizational issues management
about genetic modification. International Journal of Business Communication, 52(1), 12-
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Mai, R., & Hoffmann, S. (2014). Accents in business communication: An integrative model and
propositions for future research. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 24(1), 137-158.
Malyuga, E. N., & Tomalin, B. (2017). Communicative strategies and tactics of speech
manipulation in intercultural business discourse. Training language and culture, 1(1), 28-
48.
Moshiri, F., & Cardon, P. (2014). The state of business communication classes: A national
survey. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 77(3), 312-329.

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Ohgaki, H., & Kleihues, P. (2013). The definition of primary and secondary glioblastoma.
Clinical cancer research, 19(4), 764-772.
Wingate, U. (2012). ‘Argument!’helping students understand what essay writing is about.
Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 11(2), 145-154.