• Before you enrol
• Communication skills
• Behavioural and social skills
• Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities

Committed to equity and diversity

At UniSC, we are committed to facilitating the integration of all students into the University Community.

Reasonable adjustments in teaching and/or assessment methods can be made for students provided those adjustments do not compromise the inherent requirements of the Diploma in General Studies.

The inherent academic requirements of the Diploma in General Studies programs are the fundamental skills and abilities that the student must be able to achieve in order to demonstrate the essential learning outcomes of the Diploma in General Studies.

This Statement provides realistic information about the inherent academic requirements that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for the Diploma in General Studies so you can make an informed judgement about your ability to fulfil them.

Skills you need

The Diploma in General Studies have inherent academic requirements in three categories:

• Communication skills
• Behavioural and social skills
• Intellectual, such as conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities

Before you enrol

If you intend to enrol in a Diploma in General Studies at the UniSC, look carefully at the inherent academic requirements listed in this statement and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting them.

If you think you might experience challenges related to your disability, health condition or for any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a University Ability Adviser or School staff.

Reasonable adjustments

Students with disabilities or other special circumstances may be provided with reasonable adjustment to enable them to meet the inherent academic requirements of the Diploma in General Studies if the adjustment is:

• logistically reasonable
• likely to result in the student being able to perform the skills adequately and in a timely manner.

Support and further information is available from UniSC

• Ability Advisers

• Career Advisers

• Relevant academic contacts

Communication skills 

• Verbal and nonverbal communication skills
• Written communication skills
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills

Verbal and nonverbal communication skills

 The capacity to demonstrate:

• the ability to communicate, and to understand accurately verbal communication in English, and respond verbally, in English, to a standard that allows fluid, clear, timely, and comprehensible two-way discussions
• the ability to understand and to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
• the ability to express ideas concisely and clearly with the capacity to develop skills in providing and communicating learned knowledge and solutions to sometimes complex problems
• sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences in their communication and ability to interact appropriately in different situations

Justification

This is an inherent academic requirement of the Diploma in General Studies because:

• Effective and respectful two-way communication, via verbal and non-verbal means, is required to participate in tutorials and group assessment tasks and, for creating safe learning environments.
• English language and literacy skills are the foundation from which students will develop and apply skills in delivering a sustained and organised academic argument.
• Interactivity of communication is necessary for receiving and implementing instructions and feedback and for resolving complex problems experienced in academic and work placement settings.

Adjustments

Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure appropriate support.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

• engage in discussions, make verbal presentations and participate in tutorials and groupwork, conveying spoken and written messages, including complex academic perspectives, accurately and effectively
• recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to verbal communication and non-verbal communication cues accurately and appropriately
• demonstrate appropriate awareness of own behaviours and their impact on others and show sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences.

Written communication skills

The capacity to demonstrate:

• ability to construct coherent, timely and professional written communication in English compliant with academic writing conventions and appropriate to the circumstance.
• reading and comprehension of a range of literature and information in English

Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Diploma in General Studies because construction of written tasks, in English, that adhere to required academic standards is necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter.

Adjustments

Adjustments must allow students to meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective acquisition, recording, comprehension and transmission of information in academic and any work placement settings.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

• construct essays, reports and other written work that meet academic and professional standards
• paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic, professional and/or discipline specific conventions

Information and communication technology (ICT) skills

The capacity to acquire and demonstrate sound working skills in applying information and communication technologies (ICT) to communicate via a range of ICT applications and systems in both academic and professional settings.

Justification

These are inherent requirements of the Diploma in General Studies because competent ICT skills are essential to:

• successfully accessing, applying and communicating information to meet learning outcomes
• preparing and completing assessment tasks and submitting assessment items online.

Adjustments

Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to effectively use a range of ICT to apply and communicate accurate information. UniSC has in place a range of strategies and technology to support students with disabilities. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the University’s AccessAbility Service.

Exemplars

As a student you must:

• employ a range of ICT skills, such as internet searching and word processing, to complete written and audio-visual learning and assessment activities
• use a range of software, applications and devices for academic, research and placement purposes, in face-to-face and online synchronous and asynchronous communication environments

Behavioural and Social Skills

The capacity to demonstrate behavioural stability and adaptability in academic and professional environments which may be at times challenging and unpredictable. Students must be able to work with others and share responsibility for outcomes in a range of roles and contexts. Students must be able to demonstrate cultural, environmental and social awareness and ethical and reflective practice – e.g. in tutorials, workshops and work integrated learning (WIL) environments.

Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Diploma in General Studies because students must be able to work constructively and ethically in socially and culturally diverse academic and placement environments.

Adjustments

Adjustments must support stable, effective, ethical and professional behaviour in academic and professional settings.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

• engage with peers and staff appropriately and with sensitivity in discussion settings in the classroom and in team tasks and be receptive and professional in responding appropriately to constructive written and verbal feedback
• reflect on ethical considerations and issues and take responsibility for ensuring own ethical behaviour
• manage your own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with others both in University and work integrated learning (WIL) settings.

Intellectual – Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities 

The capacity to demonstrate knowledge and application of theory and the skills of cognition, comprehension and numeracy to meet the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level 5 criteria, which includes:

• numeracy, literacy, knowledge, cognitive and metacognitive skills appropriate to the discipline
• capacity to apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and defined responsibility in known or changing contexts and within broad but established parameters
• ability to develop intellectual skills in a variety of academic and professional contexts and to apply acquired skills and knowledge in practice.

Justification

These are inherent academic requirements of the Diploma in General Studies because conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities are necessary for the students to be able to fulfil the required range of academic and practice tasks.

Adjustments

Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.

Exemplars

As a student, you must:

• conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge to fulfil academic assessment tasks
• read, interpret, synthesise and comprehend information from multiple sources
• build strong conceptual frameworks and apply knowledge of theories, models, concepts, policy, procedures and practice; in classroom discussions, group work, assessments and professional contexts
• accurately process and reason with numbers, code and numerical data and concepts relevant to the discipline
• be aware of your own thinking and demonstrate skills to reflect, evaluate, adapt, and implement cognitive strategies for improved learning