Writing Undergraduate
Programme Outcomes
Dr Ciara O’Farrell
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AGENDA
 Review: Learning Outcomes
 Activity 1: Analyzing programme outcomes
 Activity 2: The invisible graduate
 Activity 3: Sample programme outcomes
 Open discussion: challenges and going
forward
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Learning Outcomes
 Statements of what a student is expected to know,
understand and/or be able to demonstrate after
completion of a process of learning
(ECTS Users/ Guide, 2005)
 Measure output: competency-based
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Aims, Objectives, or Learning
Outcomes?
Aims: Broad goals
Objectives:
 Measurable intentions
 Specific steps that take
us towards those goals
 Teacher-focused
Learning Outcomes:
 Measurable
achievements
 Result from a learning
process
 Stated as achievements
of the student
Sussex university
Aim vs Learning outcome
Aim
 In this module students will be introduced to
the subject of the core ethical principles in
social work
Learning Outcome
 By the end of the module the learner will be
able to critically apply the core ethical
principles in social work in different case
settings.
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Programme outcomes
Articulate:
 Knowledge and understanding needed
 Intellectual skills required to make use of
knowledge and understanding
 Specify practical skills (competencies. eg lab
skills)
 Generic/transferable skills (communication,
problem solving etc)
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Categories of Outcomes
 Subject specific outcomes – relate to subject
discipline and knowledge/skills particular to
it
 Generic/transferable skills/competencies –
relate to any/all disciplines (teamwork,
problem-solving etc)
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Sample programme outcome
On successful completion of this programme,
students will be able to:
 give an oral presentation in a team to a
specialist audience, critically evaluating both
the team’s performance and your own
contribution to the team.
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Map to:
 TCD Institutional Level Descriptors
 NQAI framework of qualifications
 Subject benchmarks and/or professional body
requirements (where necessary)
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10-level framework
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Taxonomies
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Local –Global Use of Outcomes
constructive
alignment of
learning outcomes
teaching strategies
assessment
evaluation
programme outcomes
professional body
requirements
College award descriptors
,
NQAI national award
descriptors
Bologna process of
the European
Higher Education
Area
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Covert vs Overt Outcomes
 Know
 Reflect
 Think critically
 Understand
 Appreciate
 Summarize
 Share reflections
 Interpret, analyze,
evaluate, construct
arguments
 Apply
 Discuss
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Writing Programme/Module
Outcomes
On successful completion of this programme,
students should/will be able to:
On successful completion of this
module/course, students should/will be able
to:
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Sample Graduate
attributes/competencies
Sample Competency
Sample Grad. Attribute







 “The ability to employ
techniques of analysis and
enquiry”
 “The ability to employ
originality and creativity in
formulating and applying
evidence-based arguments”
Problem solving
Teamwork
Research skills
Writing/literacy skills
Interpersonal skills
Communication skills
Ethical behaviour
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