Program Overview

Research and Employability Skills Training (REST)

The Research and Employability Skills Training (REST) program is a compulsory, structured training program for all Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students. The program aims to provide a comprehensive skills development framework that enables students to identify, plan, and demonstrate their research and transferable skills throughout their candidature. The REST program is guided by the Doctoral Graduate Attributes and is designed to respond to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) requirements and national guidelines. The program is individualized, allowing students to choose development activities relevant to their needs at various stages of their candidature. It uses a self-reflective approach, where students reflect on their skills proficiency rather than meeting specific criteria. The program recognizes all development activities, including experiential activities, and considers the skills students already possess through prior training or work experience. The REST program is delivered online, ensuring accessibility for all HDR students, regardless of their physical location. The program's primary objectives are to provide a structured and comprehensive skills development program, ensure accessibility for all HDR students, enable students to identify their development needs and plan their professional development journey, and allow students to articulate and demonstrate their skills and attributes upon completion. The program incorporates the Doctoral Graduate Attributes as its guiding framework, mapping all activities to the attributes to ensure all learning is relevant. The program directly responds to the AQF requirements and national guidelines. The REST program is a skills training program that consolidates all research and transferable skills training across the university into one program. It is an individualized program, where students choose the development most relevant to them at particular stages of their candidature. The program uses a self-reflective approach, asking students to reflect on their skills proficiency rather than meeting certain criteria. The program recognizes all development activities, including experiential activities, taking into consideration the skills the students already possess through prior training or work experience. The REST program will provide students with a skills training framework that they can take with them to further studies or careers. It is a tool to analyze, record, reflect on, and demonstrate the skills gained throughout their candidature. Through structured development activities and milestones, students will be asked to reflect on the skills they are acquiring and the ways they are utilizing those skills. The program is not extra work or training that students have to undertake; it recognizes everything they are already doing and helps them reflect on the skills they are developing. The program also consolidates all training activities relevant to HDR students in one place, under one framework, so that the development is readily available when students decide they need it. The skills development module is designed to be an iterative, reflective process, helping students assess, identify, develop, and demonstrate the skills they already have, those they need to develop, and those they are already developing. Throughout their HDR candidature, students gain a lot of knowledge, produce new knowledge, and develop many new skills. The program helps students identify, reflect on, and demonstrate those skills at the end of their candidature, which is essential when applying for jobs, grants, or promotions. The program enables students to produce a skills profile, compile evidence of skills development, and address criteria, which will help them produce a portfolio to assist with the next step beyond their HDR. To get started with the REST program, students need to familiarize themselves with the Doctoral Graduate Attributes and understand the different components of the program. There are two systems in place: the REST FLO (Canvas) site and the Inspire skills development module. Students can start by registering in the FLO (Canvas) site and reviewing the introductory materials, which will guide them through all the steps and resources. The REST FLO (Canvas) site is where all the content for the program is housed, including links to online content, online courses, workshops, useful resources, and videos. Students can browse this site for any useful material and complete training. The Skills Development Module in Inspire is where students plan and record their development. Inspire is a candidature management system that manages all aspects of a student's candidature, from development to progression, variations, and examinations. Students can use the Skills Development Module to assess their current level of skills, plan and record activities to develop their skills, browse and book into workshops, complete and reflect on their skills, and apply for final certification upon completion. For detailed instructions on how to use the module, students can refer to the Skills Development Instructions. The REST program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive skills development framework that will enable them to succeed in their future careers. The program's focus on skills development is essential, as it helps students identify, reflect on, and demonstrate the skills they are gaining throughout their candidature. By participating in the REST program, students will be able to produce a skills profile, compile evidence of skills development, and address criteria, which will help them produce a portfolio to assist with the next step beyond their HDR. The program's individualized approach, self-reflective process, and recognition of prior skills and experience make it an essential component of the HDR candidature. The REST program is a valuable resource for HDR students, providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their future careers.

How the Program Works

• The program is compulsory for all HDR students.
• It is delivered online, ensuring accessibility for all students, regardless of their physical location.
• The program is individualized, allowing students to choose development activities relevant to their needs at various stages of their candidature.
• It uses a self-reflective approach, where students reflect on their skills proficiency rather than meeting specific criteria.
• The program recognizes all development activities, including experiential activities, and considers the skills students already possess through prior training or work experience.
• The program incorporates the Doctoral Graduate Attributes as its guiding framework, mapping all activities to the attributes to ensure all learning is relevant.
• The program directly responds to the AQF requirements and national guidelines.
• The program is a skills training program that consolidates all research and transferable skills training across the university into one program.
• It is an individualized program, where students choose the development most relevant to them at particular stages of their candidature.
• The program uses a self-reflective approach, asking students to reflect on their skills proficiency rather than meeting certain criteria.
• The program recognizes all development activities, including experiential activities, taking into consideration the skills the students already possess through prior training or work experience.

Benefits of the Program

• Provides a comprehensive skills development framework for HDR students.
• Enables students to identify, plan, and demonstrate their research and transferable skills throughout their candidature.
• Recognizes prior skills and experience, allowing students to build on their existing knowledge and skills.
• Uses a self-reflective approach, enabling students to reflect on their skills proficiency and identify areas for development.
• Consolidates all training activities relevant to HDR students in one place, under one framework.
• Provides students with a skills training framework that they can take with them to further studies or careers.
• Helps students produce a skills profile, compile evidence of skills development, and address criteria, which will help them produce a portfolio to assist with the next step beyond their HDR.

Program Structure

• The program is divided into two main components: the REST FLO (Canvas) site and the Inspire skills development module.
• The REST FLO (Canvas) site is where all the content for the program is housed, including links to online content, online courses, workshops, useful resources, and videos.
• The Inspire skills development module is where students plan and record their development, assess their current level of skills, plan and record activities to develop their skills, browse and book into workshops, complete and reflect on their skills, and apply for final certification upon completion.

Program Outcomes

• Upon completion of the program, students will be able to articulate and demonstrate the skills and attributes they have developed throughout their candidature.
• Students will have a comprehensive skills profile, which will help them produce a portfolio to assist with the next step beyond their HDR.
• Students will be able to identify, reflect on, and demonstrate the skills they are gaining throughout their candidature, which is essential when applying for jobs, grants, or promotions.
• Students will have developed a range of research and transferable skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
• Students will be well-prepared for their future careers, with a strong foundation in research and transferable skills.