Factors influencing students’ perceptions of graduate attribute acquisition in a multidisciplinary honours track in a Dutch university

Abstract

This article studies the relationship between students’ perceptions of teaching and learning in a multidisciplinary honours programme and their impact on graduate attributes acquisition. The study, conducted among 73 honours students in a Dutch research university, evaluates perceived improvement in graduate attributes through annually collected survey data pertaining to student motivation, perception of the teaching and learning environment, engagement in the programme and registered course marks. The evaluation study reveals that to the extent of the perceived development of graduate attributes, three factors play crucial roles: students’ performance motivation, the amount of teacher support in creative and critical thinking, and students’ inclination to approach the honours track as a learning community.

Keywords:

• academic development
• graduate attributes
• honours programme
• multidisciplinary
• postgraduate
• university students

Notes

1. The Dublin descriptors are a set of fairly general abilities and skills that students should possess after they complete higher education bachelor's and master's degree programmes in any European country. These descriptors have been instrumental in the process of creating one European higher education area.

2. See http://www.renzullilearning.com/success-stories.aspx