The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) is a scholarly society for people committed to the advancement of higher and tertiary education.

Established in 1972, HERDSA is guided by its purpose/mission, goal, aims, and values.

Our purpose/mission is to bring together and support those people who are engaged in teaching in higher education, in the study of learning, teaching and policy in higher education, and in the continuous improvement of higher education. The term Higher Education includes the tertiary education sector.

Our goal is to be a scholarly society for the diverse group of people concerned to advance higher education.

To achieve our purpose/mission and goals, our aims are to:

• advance educational policy and practice in the higher education and tertiary sector
• facilitate and promote the enhancement of teaching and learning
• encourage and disseminate research on higher education and tertiary teaching, learning, development, research, leadership and policy matters
• recognise and reward outstanding contributions to higher and tertiary education
• encourage collaboration and the development of professional communities in higher and tertiary education and
• assist its members in their ongoing professional development.

Through all that we do, we work in ways that embrace our values:

• Connection: We provide opportunities for members to engage in positive, collaborative, scholarly interactions and create conditions conducive to members experiencing a sense of belonging.
• Inclusion: We provide a relational and scholarly space in which members are invited to respectfully question, challenge and be informed by a diversity of opinions and perspectives. We are committed to providing access to opportunities and resources to support all our members.
• Inquiry: We encourage and support our members to systematically investigate higher education issues, leading to scholarly solutions in practice and policy.
• Integrity: We uphold and expect honesty, openness, respect, and trust in members’ interactions with one another and the society.
• Quality: Our activities are informed by and contribute to contemporary evidence-based practice to enhance the learning, teaching and research capabilities of our members and their institutions.

Executive Committee is elected every two years and is supported by an administrative office and a number of Officers of HERDSA.

The current HERDSA Constitution was adopted in July 2025 .  The current HERDSA Strategic Plan 2023-2025 sets specific targets for achieving our goal and purpose.

HERDSA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Access to the HERDSA SoTL modules  (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning)  New Scholars (SoTL) | herdsa.org.au

Access to the online HERD Higher Education Research & Development | herdsa.org.au  or purchase hard copy for $20 per year additional fee

Access to the ASRHE online journal. Advancing Scholarship and Research in Higher Education (ASRHE) | herdsa.org.au

Ability to apply for a HERDSA Research Grant  HERDSA Grants Scheme | herdsa.org.au

Ability to apply for a HERDSA Conference Grant  HERDSA Annual Conference | herdsa.org.au

Reduced annual conference fee for members Welcome - HERDSA 2026

Conference Prizes during the annual conference

Reduced amount for HERDSA publications either hard copy or ebooks  Publications lists | herdsa.org.au

Access to special interest groups (SIGS) Special Interest Groups | herdsa.org.au

Access to join the Talking about Teaching and Learning Group (TATAL) TATAL (Talking about Teaching and Learning) | herdsa.org.au

HERDSA weekly notices sent by email or available online  HERDSA Notices 18 February 2026 | herdsa.org.au

HERDSA Connect Blog - HERDSA Connect Blog | herdsa.org.au

Ability to apply for an Associate Fellowship/Fellowship Joining the HERDSA Fellowship Community | herdsa.org.au

Become part of an active HERDSA Branch Branches | herdsa.org.au

Additional benefits for Group memberships https://herdsa.org.au/groupmemberships