Loton, Daniel ORCID: 0000-0003-4106-0555, Slemp, G and White, M (2017) Positive Aspirations in Higher Education? Mapping the Graduate Capabilities of Universities in Australia and New Zealand to Positive Psychology Constructs. In: 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology (IPPA 2017), 13 July 2017-16 July 2017, Montreal, Quebec. (Unpublished)

Abstract

Graduate capabilities (grad caps) are published by all higher education institutions in Oceania. They reflect a comprehensive list of the skills and dispositions developed in all graduates of any course, within that institution1. Creating graduate capabilities is an educational governance strategy. Being formed at the highest organisational level, and universal to all courses, they provide a focal point for the design and intended outcomes of all teaching and learning activities, including curriculum content and pedagogy. This project has collated the 'grad caps' of all Universities in Australia and New Zealand, and after mapping them to positive psychology domains2, explores the centrality of happiness and wellbeing as goals of higher education. Prominent and rare constructs found within the graduate capabilities will be outlined, as will be the variance within and across different educational institutions in how they prioritise positive psychological outcomes. This presentation will also consider the formation of graduate capabilities as a means of positive governance, and question their influence in the day-to-day work of university educators.

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