Research Degree Graduate Qualities (how to achieve them)

To achieve RDGQ 7, the research degree graduate:

demonstrates international perspectives in research in a discipline or professional area and as a leading citizen.

Generic indicators

A research degree graduate will:

• appreciate the relation between their local discipline or professional area and its international counterpart
• use a range of research sources and literature that provide an appropriate balance between local and international perspectives.

Developing and demonstrating this RDGQ

An 'international perspective' is demonstrated whenever researchers situate their subject matter within a given context and consider the implications of their findings for people working in other contexts. An international perspective has to do with an awareness of the ways that location, and the perspectives, policies and practices tied to it, influence your own and others' research. Regardless of whether your research field pertains to a variety of geographical or cultural contexts, or to a narrow field of practice (for example 'Australian studies' or 'disability studies'), an international perspective can be demonstrated in:

• an appreciation of the relation, or the similarities and differences, between the research topic and professional area and its international counterparts (policy, practices, expectations, history, cultural values)
• reference to literature published in international journals or by international publishers.

An international perspective can be developed and demonstrated in:

• literature reviews
• field trips
• publications in international journals
• presentations in international conferences
• explanations of the implications of geographical and cultural differences for the research.