FAQs

What's in it for me?

By creating a Science Passport you will generate a 'market-ready' product, ready to present directly to employers, or use to prepare a job application. If you choose to create a Science Passport throughout your candidature, you will take a lot of the pain out of writing job applications (e.g. addressing selection criteria/cover letters) as you will have already generated the written material, and identified evidence to back up your statements.

You will also get formal feedback from an assessor on your Science Passport, and depending on this feedback you may be awarded up to 4 electronic badges.

What are electronic badges (e-badges)?

There are 4 e-badges available for the Science Passport: UWA Leader, UWA Communicator, UWA Scholar and UWA Global Citizen. When you have provided enough evidence for any one of these categories, you may be awarded an e-badge (Mozilla open badges) which is yours to keep and showcase on any online domain you wish (e.g. LinkedIn). Having an e-badge shows your future employer that UWA recognises your expertise at a particular skill set.

What is meant by transferable skills?

Transferable skills are also sometimes referred to as soft skills. These are skills that can be applied across many different disciplines and/or roles. Examples include oral and written communication, ability to work collaboratively or autonomously, interpersonal skills, leadership, and problem-solving just to name a few. For a complete list and description of the skills UWA expects a PhD researcher to possess upon graduating, visit the Researcher Training Framework.

How much work will it take to create a Science Passport?

It’s hard to say. You can put in as much or as little effort as you want, but of course you’ll have a better product the more effort you put in. It also depends what you choose to include in your Science Passport; e.g. you may choose to include an online CV, as well as the e-Portfolio component. In that case it will take more time, but is more likely to catch a potential employer’s attention.

We recommend creating a Science Passport slowly over time, so that you keep continuous track of activities that show off your skills.

Why is it named Science Passport?

“Science” refers to the fact that this is designed for early career scientists. “Passport” is a metaphor for the overall aim of the project: it (a) tracks where you have been and (b) equips you to go to new places. The 'stamping' of the Passport comes when you master each one of the 4 transferable skill domains and get an e-badge.

At what stage of my candidature can I complete the Science Passport program

You can start creating your Science Passport at any stage of your PhD, although we recommend the earlier the better. This way you will keep an on-going log of activities that demonstrate your skills over time.