Graduate Attributes: Resourceful and Responsible. An image of two hands holding a seedling on a blue background

You will be resourceful and responsible

You will be experienced in self-directed learning, conscientious and capable of substantial independent work.

Resourcefulness and responsibility

Being resourceful and responsible is a crucial attribute for any professional. Ultimately, whatever your career path, you will have to be motivated and conscientious in order to progress. Employers need graduates who are driven and accountable to themselves and others. This is what this graduate attribute is all about, and those who develop it strongly will stand out as vital members of any workplace.

You will be experienced in self-directed learning, conscientious and capable of substantial independent work.

How will my degree make me resourceful and responsible?

University is all about developing independence of thought, efficient self-study skills and meeting deadlines.  

If entering the University of Glasgow is your first experience of higher education, the jump from what was expected of you independently in school may feel overwhelming. However, all your course mates are likely in the same boat, and it will feel completely natural by the time you graduate.  

As the weeks go on, you will settle into the routine of independent study – how much secondary reading your lecturers expect you to do, how long in advance you should start preparing for a looming deadline and how to narrow down what routes you want to take when given a blank canvas research project.  

By the end of your degree, you will be completing an authentic research-led project or dissertation, based on your own interests which the self-study aspect of your degree will have given you space to discover.   

For STEM subjects, lab studies require independent work as well as accountability and responsibility in group projects. A science experiment needs to meet a specific end goal or result, requiring the student to manage their own performance to ensure such. 

What about extra-curriculars?

To further develop the graduate attribute of being resourceful and responsible, why not take the ability to work independently developed through your degree to lead others? Leadership positions in societies of your interest are a great way to do this.  

Any sort of fundraising role or position will help you become resourceful and responsible, as it requires you to be motivated and devise your own plan to meet goals. There are lots of such organisations on campus, including: