UFS Graduate Attributes

The level of higher-order thinking from high school to university is definitely a big jump. I am thankful for the critical thinking practices that my degree programme offered me, from assignments to class discussions. Within my student positions, critical thinking is a requirement and ought to be implemented in various tasks and projects. It was thus strengthened through the hears of studying and working at the UFS.

I am a very practical and logical person and currently I work mostly with data in my line of work. I thus encounter problems on a daily basis and enjoy the process of trail and error until I solved the problem. Within my studies, we were deliberatly given scenarios to try and solve. Being a teaching assistant also allowed me to practice my problem solving skills. A simple example is when one teach an online class and suddenly your internet connection is down. One must be quick witted and organise a quick solution so that the students can still continue with the session.

Studying education in itself rewards one to practice oral communication skills during teaching practice. There is a module that I enjoyed a lot where the lecturer facilitated debate during the class. It not only forced one to think critically but to articulate your arguments well. However, I was also a tutor and a teaching assistant, a research assistant, and an assistant researcher that taught various modules.

Written communication is still something that I am learning every day. When I read the assignments that I wrote in my first year I just shake my head when I see all my mistakes. Slowly but surely I will work my way up in the competency of this attribute. Luckily, my degree course offered many written assignments and my line of work requires me to write reviews, edit, and write content/reports.

Ethical reasoning is an attribute that will be excercised in the world of work and should be something that must be practiced during your degree programme. Luckily, I had modules that had think not only critically but ethically before making a descision. Within my work there is an office culture to respect but also work ethics that must be respected. For instance, I am working on an instiutional project and I am not allowed to share any of the results outside the office space. 

Creating a sence of community is what makes us human. Applying community engagement in assignments, albeit, not the easiest, did allow us to learn from each other and collaborate until the task was done. 

Ever since I started studying again in 2018 I knew that I had to strive for excellence to work on future my employability. I thus applied for various positions while I studies and used these positions to test my skills and upskill myself when I saw I could improve. I also received various rewards and certificates from my student positions.

Back in 2013 I studied a BA degree but never finished. When I got the chance to study again I ensured that I will do my best of my abilities and learn from that year. Having a mindset with goals allwed me to get distinctions for both my undergraduate degree and postgraduate degree. Not only did I try to excel in my studies, I tried to excel in my student positions and was awarded the best education Tutor in 2020, and the best new comer teaching assistant in 2021.