Developing generic skills through university study: A study of arts, science and engineering in Australia

Abstract

This study examined relationships between important aspects of a university education and the assessment and development of generic skills. A sample of 323 students enrolled in single or double arts, engineering and/or science degrees from a research-intensive university in Australia were administered the Graduate Skills Assessment to measure four generic skills-critical thinking, interpersonal understandings, problem solving and written communication. As expected, students' grade point average was generally found to be significantly related to scores for all four skill scales both within each discipline area and across the total sample. Reporting of academic achievement through the GPA ther..