Lifelong learning
This is the second of the Research Degree Graduate Qualities.
2. is prepared for lifelong learning in pursuit of ongoing personal development and excellence in research within and beyond a discipline or professional area.
Introduction
With respect to the second generic quality, lifelong learning, there is a shift to the area of personal learning. For the postgraduate higher degree by research student, the context is the 'pursuit of personal development and excellence in research within and beyond the discipline or professional practice'.
How is a staging area for lifelong learning established by the research student? Prior to or during the course of research degree education, the research student would have achieved advanced skills in information retrieval and data processing and would have sought professional support for aspects of thesis writing. In particular cases, the supervisor would have directed the research student to academic and professional networks for future reference; the postgraduates would also have attained capacities and skills relative to creating and critiquing knowledge that can be transferred outside of their immediate discipline or professional area.
In short, the research
student would have acquired the resources and the
motivation necessary to continue research in the relevant discipline or
professional area after the thesis has been completed.
Generic indicators
A research degree postgraduate will:
- demonstrate advanced information retrieval and processing skills including data management and bibliographic resources
- be able to apply data analysis software and techniques
- take responsibility for their own continuing professional and academic development
- make professional use of others in support of self-directed learning
- continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level
- possess a knowledge of the discourse of their discipline or professional area and the learning and thinking strategies that will contribute to their ongoing and future development