Integrating graduate attributes into Islamic higher education curricula in Aceh, Indonesia

One of the most significant current discussions in higher education is refining the concept of graduate attributes or generic skills in undergraduate student curricula. In most universities in Australia and the UK, there is an established set of graduate attributes that undergraduate students are expected to acquire as a result of their course of studies (Barrie, 2007; Chalmers & Partridge, 2013). However, in the context of Islamic higher education, especially in Aceh, Indonesia, graduate attributes are often a novel concept. What have been referred to as graduate attributes in Australian and UK universities are largely not identified within curriculum intentions in Islamic universities in Aceh. This chapter is motivated by the implementation of new policy developments in Indonesia for higher education in Aceh that call for greater integration of Islamic values, general education and attention to local community needs. In coming to some practical solutions regarding the integration of graduate attributes into the curriculum, this paper draws upon a study that sought the views and lived educational experiences of students and teachers in an English Education Department in an Islamic university in Aceh.