“We are focused on helping every graduate demonstrate how their Trinity Western education gave them the critical thinking skills, character, and ability to solve complex problems, collaborate, and lead well.”
— Brian Kerr, Senior Vice President of Enrolment, Personal and Professional Development
TWU is dedicated to helping graduates effectively transition into life after University. In this process, TWU is committed to help our graduates solve this key challenge:
How will graduates communicate the very best of their Christian liberal arts education to their future employer or graduate school?
Launching well into life after graduation
Brian Kerr, SVP of Enrolment, Personal and Professional Development explains, “We are focused on helping every graduate demonstrate how their Trinity Western education gave them the critical thinking skills, character, and ability to solve complex problems, collaborate, and lead well.”
To accomplish this, TWU is providing a new “experiential record,” also known as the co-curricular transcript, to help students document, curate, and reflect upon all of their University experiences. This process leads students to refine their understanding of who they are, what they believe, and what they are called to do in the world. The experiential record provides the platform for students to demonstrate their practical preparation for the complex world of work, within the context of a deeper understanding of calling and vocational stewardship.
“An academic transcript tells you your classes and your grades, whereas your co-curricular transcript tells the story of who you’ve become in the process.”
This year, under the leadership of TWU's new Centre for Calling and Career Development, TWU will be conducting a soft launch of the co-curricular transcript with a pilot group of students. The soft launch will focus on refining the platform, before making it available to the broader student body. The co-curricular transcript, originally approved by TWU's Senate in 2019, will be more fully developed over the coming year, in partnership with academic and non-academic areas across the campus.
A transcript for the person you’ve become
The academic transcript and co-curricular experiential record work together to tell a fuller story about the TWU graduate, capturing the person's overall success and development.
“An academic transcript tells you your classes and your grades, whereas your co-curricular transcript tells the story of who you’ve become in the process.”
A story of skills learned, not just classes taken
Based on recent research conducted by LinkedIn and the World Economic Forum on what skills graduates need to be competitive in today’s job market, Kerr’s team have looked into the full curriculum offerings at TWU and broken them down into specific job skills produced.
“[It shows] my personal development of who I am – my ability to innovate and to adapt, and my level of digital literacy.”
The human skills that students accumulate through academic coursework and leadership experiences at TWU can then be documented within a student’s co-curricular transcript, which can then be easily translated onto a student’s résumé and LinkedIn profile.
As Kerr explains, this document records a student’s true potential. “[It shows] my personal development of who I am – my ability to innovate and to adapt, and my level of digital literacy.”
Added focus on integrity and character
In addition to analyzing TWU courses based on the competitive job skills graduates need today, Kerr and his team have added another dimension, which is unique to a Trinity Western education.
“We give students opportunity to reflect theologically and focus on integrity,” says Kerr.
One way in which students reflect theologically, is by considering questions about the purpose and meaning of work, and how to view vocation as a life calling.
In alignment with a student’s life calling and innate strengths, Kerr and his team help students to consider which skills to focus on and intentionally develop, while at University.
“...how do we talk about these (negative) experiences in a redemptive way? The co-curricular transcript allows a student to tell that story (of overcoming) and to see that there is great value in those failures, those things that don’t go as planned.”
Depending on the student’s individual goals or interests, they may not require every job skill, Kerr explains. “But it might be four of five skills that are really key to their specific industry, or their specific calling, with an exposure to the other skills,” he says.
With help from a career and life calling coach, students can decide which skills they need for success in their chosen field, and then see what opportunities exist across the University to develop those abilities.
Opportunities at TWU come in a variety of academic and leadership options. Kerr suggests some examples, “It might be a student employment opportunity in the finance department, or it may be a specific class for digital literacy.”
See also — Building competence and character: the difference of a values-based Trinity Western education:
TWU News
Documenting skills learned through crisis and failure
Sometimes success in developing career-readiness may look different from traditional measures of success. For example, when a student faces life challenges and performs poorly in class, they may still learn to overcome their challenges and develop perseverance.
“We give students opportunity to reflect theologically and focus on integrity."
In the midst of crisis, a student may demonstrate adaptability, grit, and ingenuity – skills that prepare a student well for life beyond University.
These are the kinds of life skills that the co-curricular transcript can capture.
Kerr adds, “Those (challenges) are really important parts of the learning journey… how do we talk about these experiences in a redemptive way?”
“The co-curricular transcript allows a student to tell that story (of overcoming) and to see that there is great value in those failures, those things that don’t go as planned,” he said.
Confidence for the next job interview
Kerr and his team at TWU's new Centre for Calling and Professional Development walk with students from the very beginning. Starting with initial conversations on calling and purpose, they help students plan and document their University experiences all the way to the end.
In this way, TWU works to ensure that students graduate with an understanding of who they are, what they believe, and what they are called to do in the world.
Moreover, they leave TWU with a résumé that will reflect the true depth of their preparation. They will possess a confidence as they go into their job interview, not only to land their first job but to be successful in their overall careers, all for the purpose of building and contributing to the good of the world and the Kingdom of God.
See also — Advancing students' leadership development, spiritual growth, and well-being in a diverse Christ-centered community:
TWU News
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For media inquiries, please contact: media@twu.ca