Published on Experiential Learning (https://www.uoguelph.ca/experientiallearning)

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Common Employability Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (KSA)

In interview situations, many employers and partners have indicated that students often have difficulty articulating the skills they have developed in other contexts and how they might be of benefit to a future employer. To support a student's ability to clearly identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes gained through experiential learning, University of Guelph experiences are mapped to common employability outcomes. This includes on campus employment opportunities, many co-curricular activities, Co-operative Education work terms, practica and work integrated learning experiences.

Divided into three domains (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) the 26 outcomes are derived from a variety of employability resources including the Conference Board of Canada [1], National Association of Colleges and Employers [2], and the World Economic Forum [3]. This list is not meant to be representative of everything that could be an employability outcome, but rather those that were mentioned frequently across sources.

Download the full Common Employability Outcomes list with definitions (PDF - 441 KB) [4].

Knowledge Domain

Business and Financial Information and its Application

Includes the ability to make sense of and apply concepts, theories, and practices of business, management, and finance.

Cultural and Civic Information and its Application

Includes the ability to make sense of and apply concepts, theories, and practices from the arts and humanities.

Digital and Technical Information and its Application

Includes the ability to make sense of and apply concepts, theories, and practices from communication, scientific, mechanical, and design technologies.

Mathematical Information and its Application

Includes the ability to make sense of and apply mathematical concepts, theories, and practices.

Scientific Information and its Application

Includes the ability to make sense of and apply scientific concepts, theories, and practices from the natural, social, and applied sciences.

Skills Domain

Communication Skills

Oral Communication

Includes the ability to exchange information and ideas with other people through speech, active listening, and non-verbal cues.

Visual Communication

Includes the ability to find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create images and visual media.

Written Communication

Includes the ability to communicate information and ideas through written or typed text.

Critical and Creative Thinking Skills

Creativity and Innovation

Includes the ability to imagine and devise new ways of addressing problems, answering questions, or expressing meaning through the application, synthesis, or repurposing of knowledge.

Critical and Analytical Thinking

Includes the ability to identify, analyze, and evaluate situations, ideas and information.

Knowledge Integration

Includes the ability to integrate and apply relevant information from a variety of sources into new or broader contexts.

Problem-Solving

Includes the ability to assess, prioritize, and evaluate potential solutions to problems by asking relevant questions, identifying root causes, and gathering facts.

Interpersonal Skills

Conflict Management

Includes the ability to identify sources of conflict and take steps to minimize or overcome disharmony.

Leadership

Includes the ability to direct, guide, and motivate others to accomplish a common goal or purpose.

Social and Cultural Agility

Includes the ability to communicate, interrelate, and function well in diverse social and cultural settings.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Includes the ability to contribute to the shared purpose of a group, network or partnership through a commitment to sharing power, resources, expertise, and perspectives.

Project Management Skills

Decision-Making

Includes the ability to make timely decisions based on thorough assessment of short- and long-term effects, recognizing political and ethical implications on those affected.

Information Management

Includes the ability to locate, select, organize, and document information from a variety of sources using appropriate technology and information systems.

Planning and Organizing

Includes the ability to establish tasks and allocate resources to meet objectives, monitor progress, and revise plans to reflect new information.

Time Management

Includes the ability to manage several tasks at once, being able to set priorities and allocate time efficiently to meet deadlines.

Attitudes Domain

Adaptability

Includes the ability to show flexibility and openness to changing plans, methods, opinions or goals in light of new information and changing circumstances. Ability to work both independently and part of a team.

Curiosity

Includes the ability to ask questions and demonstrate open-mindedness and inquisitiveness.

Initiative

Includes a willingness to proactively take on responsibilities and challenges.

Persistence

Includes the ability to sustain interest, effort and motivation to persevere in accomplishing a task or goal.

Responsibility

Includes the ability to set personal and professional goals, be accountable for actions, consider the needs of others, attend proactively to one’s mental and physical wellbeing, and work safely.

Self-Awareness

Includes the ability to acknowledge and reflect on personal strengths, areas for development, values, limits, feelings, motivations, and biases.

Experiential Learning at the University of Guelph

Experiential learning is a core part of what we do at the University of Guelph. We believe that students benefit from engaging directly in workplaces and communities where they can apply their learning in real contexts. Our course-based and co-curricular opportunities are designed to develop transferable skills, expand awareness of work and community issues, and promote collaboration between peers, faculty, and external partners.

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Source URL:https://www.uoguelph.ca/experientiallearning/ksa

Links
[1] http://www.conferenceboard.ca/spse/employability-skills.aspx [2] http://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/ [3] https://www.weforum.org/ [4] https://experientiallearning.uoguelph.ca/sites/default/files/U%20of%20G%20Common%20Employability%20Knowledge%20Skills%20and%20Attitudes_2.pdf