The HERDSA Executive Committee wholeheartedly congratulates everyone involved in making the HERDSA 2024 Conference a remarkable success. From the diligent Conference Organising Committee to the enthusiastic delegates, sponsors, volunteers, Adelaide Conference Centre staff, Expert Events, and all contributors. Your combined efforts were pivotal in achieving this year's milestones.

Record-Breaking Participation and Positive Feedback:

This year's conference saw an unprecedented number of participants, with 587 onsite registrants and over 80 joining online. We received a 42.2% response rate on the delegate survey, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees praised the quality of keynote and delegate presentations, the relevance of the themes and sub-themes, the excellent food, and the numerous networking opportunities, including branch and special interest group meetings.

Key highlights from the survey include:

• Overall Satisfaction: 92.4% of attendees rated the conference 4 or 5 stars, with an average rating of 4.49 out of 5.
• Attendance: The conference attracted a balanced mix of 54.1% first-time attendees and 45.9% returning participants, indicating strong appeal to both new and established members.
• Motivations: The primary reasons for attendance were presenting research (50-55 respondents) and engaging with academic scholarship (35-40 respondents).
• Abstract Submission Process: Highly rated, with 84.2% giving 4 or 5 stars, averaging 4.35 out of 5.
• Presentation Quality: 85.6% of attendees rated presentations 4 or 5 stars, with an average of 4.16 out of 5.
• Networking Opportunities: Exceptionally well-received, with 90.4% rating 4 or 5 stars, averaging 4.4 out of 5.
• Content Highlights: Indigenous perspectives, inclusive teaching and learning, AI in education, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) were particularly impactful themes.
• Format: The roundtable discussions were popular, fostering engagement 

These survey results demonstrate that HERDSA's core values of Connection, Inclusion, Inquiry, Integrity, and Quality were well reflected throughout the conference.

Diverse Formats and Engaging Sessions:

Delegates had the opportunity to engage in various formats, including showcases, roundtables, and poster presentations. The pre-conference workshops were particularly well-received, with roundtable sessions and the popular buddies breakfast session drawing large crowds. Over 300 new members and their buddies attended the breakfast session, highlighting the strong sense of community and support within HERDSA.

The conference was impeccably organised, with excellent venue arrangements, superb catering, and precise timekeeping. Attendees ranged from academics and postgraduate and undergraduate students to academic developers, who support the teaching and learning of colleagues involved in discipline research and teaching.

Insightful Keynote Speeches:

The keynote speeches at HERDSA 2024 were both inspiring and thought-provoking.

Dr. Paul Gallaghan kicked off the conference with his keynote speech titled "How Universities Can Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Achieve Self-Determination and Improved Wellbeing." Dr. Gallaghan emphasized the role of universities in teaching students to be better people—valuing others, exercising fairness and sound ethics, being team players, and showing kindness. He reminded us that for many, university is the final stop before stepping into the world to either do good or cause disruption.

Prof. Dieter Schönwetter delivered the second keynote speech, focusing on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). He highlighted the importance of systematic study of teaching and learning processes to improve educational practices and student outcomes. Prof. Schönwetter candidly shared his own struggles with time and learning new approaches to educational research, a reassuring note for many educators facing similar challenges. He urged us to strive for positive student outcomes amidst the myriad of contemporary issues.

The final keynote by Dr. Jennifer Stokes and her student Bailey Wemyss was a compelling narrative on how universities can be beacons of hope, offering support to students facing various challenges—some visible, others not as apparent. They introduced the ADEPT framework, encouraging systemic change to better support diverse student needs.

Celebrating Achievements at the Annual Dinner:

The conference dinner was a vibrant affair, celebrating diversity and excellence in higher education. The Bollywood-Hollywood theme added glamour and excitement, with delegates donning dazzling attire. The event featured mesmerising performances, energetic music, and interactive activities like henna art and a 360 video booth. The awarding of HERDSA Fellowships, research grants, and the prestigious Lifetime Member award to Prof. Shelda Debowski for her long-standing service and leadership contributions added to the evening's highlights.

Continuing the Conversation:

Reflections and summaries of the conference have been widely shared on LinkedIn under the hashtag #HERDSA2024. These thoughtful contributions are extending the impact of our discussions and inspiring others in the higher education community. To relive some of the unforgettable moments, we've put together a brief video clips showcasing the key highlights from our four days and dinner memories together.

Conference sessions: https://youtu.be/Fw7Ncb50hzU

Dinner memories: https://youtu.be/hzpeZu-irkE

Acknowledging the Event Entertainers and Coordinators:

A heartfelt thank you to Expert Events Pty Ltd for their impeccable organisation and to the talents who made the conference memorable. Janaki Easwar's performance was captivating, the Purple Monkey Band set the perfect tone, and Twinkle Events and 360 Scene SA brought the night to life with their creativity and execution.

Looking Ahead:

HERDSA invites you to join us for our Annual HERDSA Conference, taking place from July 7-10, 2025, in Boorloo (Perth), along the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River) on Whadjuk Noongar Country, Australia.

HERDSA 2025’s theme, "Shaping Education: Past, Present, Future," reflects our dedication to advancing education by building on past research, engaging with contemporary pedagogies, practices, and trends, and fostering innovative future research initiatives, collaborations, and connections.

Watch this welcome clip from the conference organising committee: https://youtu.be/K409-Q3zdEE

For more info and key dates visit: HERDSA2025 website:  https://conference.herdsa.org.au/2025/

Thank you once again for making HERDSA 2024 a resounding success. We look forward to continuing our conversations and collaborations, fostering the values of connection, inclusion, inquiry, integrity, and quality in higher education.

Let's keep the spirit alive and continue making a lasting impact in higher education!

To stay tuned to HERDSA’s activities and PD opportunities, Connect with us on

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herdsa/

X: @HERDSA3 @herdsa_conf

HERDSA website: https://herdsa.org.au/