USQ Phoenix Award
The Phoenix Award is a great opportunity for you to engage in the full USQ experience. Through formal recognition of extra and co-curricular activities completed while studying, you can show future employers exactly what you have learned and achieved outside of the classroom, developing your graduate skills and increasing your employability. The Award encourages you to step outside of your comfort zone, meet new people, discover opportunities, build your skillset and expand your knowledge
For more information or questions relating to the Phoenix Award, explore below or contact Student Life.
An easy to use system tracks the extra and co-curricular activities you complete while studying. When you finish the Award, you will receive a personalised certificate and transcript demonstrating the wide range of skills you’ve developed during your time at USQ.
- Register for the Phoenix Award (you will receive access to the Online Portal when approved)
- Find and participate in activities that develop or demonstrate your graduate skills (listed below)
- Complete a declaration for each activity (online submission)
- Receive points per activity ranging from 2 to 300
- Reach a minimum of 1000 points (category minimums required)
- Continue with further activities or finalise the award
- Receive formal recognition for activities completed
The Phoenix Award online portal is available 24 hours per day for you to submit activities, see upcoming opportunities, and check your current points.
Graduate skills
- Discipline-specific expertise and industry knowledge
- Research, analytical and evaluative skills
- Digital literacy
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Teamwork and leadership
- Cultural awareness and capability
- Ethical practice
- Resilience and adaptability
- Critical and creative thinking
- Self-direction and resourcefulness
Please refer to the Graduate Attributes Policy for further details about the Graduate Attribute Principles.
An activity is generally considered eligible for the Phoenix Award if the following criteria are met:
- The activity fits one of the activity categories
- The activity is completed while you are actively enrolled at USQ.
- The activity is not a direct requisite of your coursework.
- You can demonstrate and justify (250-500 word written reflection) how the activity has developed or allowed you to demonstrate your graduate skills.
- You can provide sufficient evidence to confirm your participation and level of involvement in the activity.
You are encouraged to shape your Phoenix Award by considering what activities, skills and attributes will be most impactful towards your chosen career path, and choosing activities which match these.
As each participant’s interests and projected journey are different there is no set activity list. However, you are able to see a list of activities which have commonly been completed through the USQ Phoenix Award Online Portal’s Activity Declaration Form, by selecting Category then Activity (dropdown). If the activity does not appear, select ‘Other’ from the Activity list to enter a custom activity name.
Activity categories
- Professional development - Activities which develop or enhance your professional skills and career outcomes
- Contribution to the community - Service-based activities which provide benefit to the University or wider communities
- Extra-curricular achievement - Completion of accredited training including programs, modules, certificates and qualifications
Upon completion of your Award requirements, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and transcript. The Phoenix Award Transcript outlines how the Award works and the framework on which it is based, provides an overall breakdown of your key skills, and a complete list of your activities with relevant skill markers.
For all graduands who complete their final semester in S1 2020 onwards, the USQ Phoenix Award will be noted* on your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) when you complete your academic program.
The Phoenix Award will now have three completion periods aligning with each semester’s Results Release ensuring your Phoenix Award is awarded at the end of your final semester.
A digital Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement is issued to all USQ graduands when they complete their academic program. This important graduation document includes:
- personal Degree Name – not your Primary Name or Preferred Name
- academic program with Major/s but no Minors
- any academic award such as ‘with Distinction’
- grades achieved within the academic program
- special achievements such as Scholarships, University/Faculty Medal
- eligible to graduate date or conferral date
- description of the Australian Higher Education System
- signature of University Registrar
- document security features
- your achievement of a USQ Phoenix Award (if achieved)
If you have any questions please contact Student Life.
*Subject to requirements and assigned due dates being met
“By participating in the Phoenix Award, I have discovered that I am more capable than I have given myself credit for. I have pushed past boundaries that would normally hold me back and by doing so I have received not only casual employment but made great friends and gained an amazing sense of pride, confidence and empowerment. Because of the Phoenix Award I feel I can achieve anything I put my mind to.”