Developmental Themes
Grouping the Skills
The 9 Skills for Success remain at the heart of our approach to student development, but grouping them into three broader developmental themes helps us tell a clearer and more connected story about the capabilities our students will need for the future. These themes reflect the language and direction of Cardiff University’s Our future, together strategy, aligning the 9 Skills model more closely with our shared ambitions for graduates, education and the wider student experience.
The developmental themes provide a practical way for colleagues to embed skills development across curricula, programme design and enhancement activities. Informed by research, consultation and feedback from staff and students, they help make the 9 Skills model easier to navigate while supporting meaningful conversations about learning, personal growth and graduate outcomes. Rather than changing the skills themselves, the themes help bring them together in a way that is accessible, future-focused and relevant to the evolving needs of our students, communities and society.
Our Skills for Success model is essential for supporting future graduates globally.
How the groupings form the outer circle of the design.
NB: The design is still in its infancy, with the next phase of development, we should have an interactive model that will display the skills and sample behaviours through ‘click and reveal’ or ‘hover and pop-up’.
The Themes:
Think and Grow
Creating a learning environment that enables our students to develop knowledge and understanding, generate ideas, adapt their thinking and behaviours, and grow intellectually and personally.
Adaptive:
- be flexible, agile and find opportunities in change, responding constructively to challenges with emotional intelligence and resilience
- reflect on learning and experiences to recognise own strengths, self-development needs and set goals
- manage time effectively and take proactive steps to support personal wellbeing.
Collaboration:
- work effectively with others respecting and learning from different perspectives
- contribute and lead within groups fostering cooperation and managing conflict
- engage in opportunities to build professional networks and positive relationships
Communication:
- demonstrate active listening
- convey meaning and messages effectively using evidence and appropriate methods such as public speaking and storytelling to engage others
- present ideas with confidence
Connect and Belong
Providing a supportive and inclusive environment that enables our students to communicate effectively, build relationships, work collaboratively with others, and develop a sense of belonging through respect, empathy and shared understanding.
Creative:
- develop original ideas and approaches through curiosity, imagination and innovation
- explore possibilities, experiment with established ways of working and learn from challenges
- apply creativity, design, ingenuity or practice to generate impactful solutions
Critical Thinking:
- develop independent thought by questioning assumptions and practices
- analyse a range of information, data and scenarios, applying logical reasoning and problem‑solving to make informed decisions
- use research and evidence critically with awareness of bias
Digital:
- develop awareness and understanding of digital tools and technologies, adapting to technological advances
- apply digital skills to improve ways of working, process information effectively, and make a positive difference
- consider the ethical implications of digital practice, engaging safely and responsibly with emerging technologies
Act and Create Change
Creating opportunities that enable our students to apply skills and knowledge confidently, use digital tools and technologies to effect change, act professionally and ethically, and make informed decisions to deliver sustainable impact.
Futures-focused:
- consider the long‑term impact of actions and decisions
- act with social, environmental and economic responsibility
- make informed choices that contribute to sustainable and positive futures
Inclusive:
- respect, value and learn from different cultures, diverse communities and demonstrate an openness to global perspectives and local initiatives
- apply ethical judgement to assess the impact of actions
- embrace Welsh language, culture and context
Professional:
- demonstrate curiosity and commercial awareness, showing initiative and motivation to learn and develop
- behave with integrity, reliability and accountability
- apply learning and discipline-specific knowledge confidently and effectively to add value in professional environments
Film: How do we apply the 9 skills?
Access a film that explores how the nine skills can be applied to curriculum development and examines their alignment with the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report 2025, as well as Advance HE and QAA standards:
For any design related questions, please contact Gemma Peterson, Learning Designer.