Skills and Attributes: Be creative
Fuel your potential with skills to shape your future.
Unlock your creativity
The right creative skills can change everything. They can help you push boundaries, create new opportunities and transform the world around you.
Creativity is a powerful expression of your talent, drive and ambition. Unlock yours to become who you’re meant to be.
Explore the skills you need to become an innovator, a real-world problem solver, an original thinker.
Critical thinking
Make better decisions, solve challenges, and approach work and life with confidence and clarity by:
- developing the ability to identify questions or problems and consider and evaluate the accuracy of information
- being investigative and using evidence-based decision-making
- applying subject knowledge to think through and beyond discipline expertise
- unpacking information and critically analysing its validity
- challenging ideas
Opportunities to develop this skill include:
Develop your critical thinking with our online Academic Skills Kit. Book a 1-2-1 appointment for support to evaluate your study strengths and areas for development.
Shape the future of Team Newcastle. Represent Performance Sport students on the Athlete Commission and drive meaningful improvements across athlete welfare and inclusivity.
Problem solving
Learn how to turn setbacks into opportunities and drive your success through:
- identifying, understanding and generating ideas to solve problems
- being strategic in identifying opportunities to generate answers to challenges
- offering different perspectives to engage with issues and questions
Opportunities to develop this skill include:
Go abroad as part of your degree, Become more resourceful and confident as you learn to manage unfamiliar systems, cultures and ways of working.
Choose from a programme of workshops. Develop the academic and information skills to reach your potential in your degree programme and beyond.
Creative thinking
Build confidence and allow your flair and creativity to stand out by:
- using your imagination to create and develop original ideas and methods
- being good at thinking and doing new and sometimes challenging things
Opportunities to develop this skill include:
Deliver community engagement sessions around practical sport and education. Work with schools, clubs and organisation who are passionate about giving back to the community.
Join our outstanding Student Ambassador team. Deliver recruitment events on and off campus that inspire and support the next generation of Newcastle students.
Digital and AI
Embrace the digital and AI skills to stay ahead in a fast-paced world by:
- being able to learn, work and live independently and with others safely in an increasingly digital world
- building and applying knowledge of a range of digital applications
- being proficient in the ethical use and critique of AI tools
Opportunities to develop these skills and attributes include:
Gain experience with Newcastle University's sports marketing team. Develop fresh ideas for digital and social media content that showcases your skill and passion for sport.
Innovating
Turn great ideas into solutions and power your ambitions in your studies, work and life by:
- being resourceful and demonstrating initiative
- taking calculated risks
- identifying opportunities and being resourceful in order to create something of value
Opportunities to develop this skill include:
Be supported by our careers experts to think creatively about your future - whether that's a graduate job, further study or self-employment.
Represent students' academic interests within your School and the wider University. Identify challenges and work with University staff to create positive change.
Ready to skill up?
Success comes from learning, improving, and growing every day.
Start your journey by reflecting on your skills and assess where you are. It’ll help you uncover the skills and personal attributes you already have. They’re your strengths. Lean into them.
It’ll also highlight areas where you can grow. But don’t see these as weaknesses: they’re the foundations of your development plan.
More ways to become creative
Every experience, big or small, can strengthen your employability.
It can also help you develop the confidence, character, and skills you'll carry with you for life.
Here’s some more ways to skill up:
- Join a student society or create a new one: explore interests, share ideas and find innovative solutions to problems. Starting a new society needs imagination, initiative, and the confidence to turn an idea into action.
- START UP a business, social enterprise or go freelance: think differently and spot opportunities. Shape what’s next with the support of our team.
- Learn something new: sign up for a free online course, learn a new creative skill or a new language - it’ll encourage fresh thinking and new perspectives.