HERDSA Notices 10 September 2025

* HERDSA Blog Post: Looking on the bright side: could being optimistic be bad for student well-being?
* HERDSA Community: HERDSA Online Engagement in HE SiG Lightning Talks – Key Takeaways
* HERDSA SoTL SIG - September meeting next Friday! Turning ideas into SoTL projects
* The HERDSA Pedagogy of Student Belonging and Wellbeing Special Interest Group Meeting
* Register now for the HERDSA Academic Development SIG webinar
* Abstract submissions are now open for HERDSA 2026!
* Are you interested in becoming an 'evidence-based HE educator'?
* 2025 CRADLE International Symposium: Expert panel - 'Assessment design in higher ed: Changing practices for a world with AI'
* New Universal Wellbeing Model and Evaluation Tool - Research Workshop (Online)
* The road behind and the journey ahead: CRADLE 10th anniversary celebration event
* The 5th National Symposium on the Student Experience and Wellbeing in Higher Education
* New IJAD Call for Papers: Navigating the Future of Academic Development
* Announcing International Journal for Academic Development's Issue 3 (2025)
* New articles in Higher Education Research and Development

To submit an announcement for this list complete the online form at http://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-notices

A full list of HERDSA Notices is online at http://www.herdsa.org.au/latest-news

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HERDSA Blog Post: Looking on the bright side: could being optimistic be bad for student well-being?
Nicky Stanley-Clarke, Jorie Knook, Amanda Hay & Robbie Maris, 10 September 2025

Nicky, Jorie, Amanda & Robbie explain why being optimistic may actually be a barrier to students seeking the help they need while navigating the trials and tribulations of university life.

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HERDSA Community: HERDSA Online Engagement in HE SiG Lightning Talks – Key Takeaways
HERSDA Online Engagement in HE SiG, 14 August, 2025

The HERSDA Online Engagement in HE SiG once again enjoyed a showcase of lightning talks related to topics focused on online engagement. The collection of presentations reflected the energy and creativity of colleagues exploring strategies and associated scholarship related fostering connection, confidence, and belonging in online learning. In just five-minute bursts, presenters shared projects that stretched from humour and AI to equity and student voice.

View the presentations at: https://herdsa.org.au/news/herdsa-online-engagement-he-sig-lightning-tal...

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HERDSA SoTL SIG - September meeting next Friday! Turning ideas into SoTL projects
Friday, 19 September 2025, 12.00–1.00pm AEST (NSW/VIC time)

Our next HERDSA SoTL SIG meeting is next Friday! We are looking forward to spending time with Professor Jo Kelder and turning an idea into a SoTL project.

How do I turn a seed of an idea into a SoTL project? Designing SoTL research for impact

This presentation introduces a conceptual framework that guides academics to design sustainable and collaborative SOTL research into their teaching. The presentation includes interactive elements that will support participants to identify opportunities to embed a scholarly approach to their teaching practice. It also provides templates and guidelines for planning data collection over time to ensure a strong evidence-base of impact on students' learning and engagement resulting from innovation or quality improvements in curriculum design and delivery.

Dr Jo-Anne Kelder bio
Dr Jo-Anne Kelder is Adjunct Senior Researcher in the College of Sciences and Engineering at the University of Tasmania. She has led institutional and national projects focussing on quality assurance of curriculum and enhancing student experience, as well as research to develop staff capability and practice in curriculum evaluation and scholarship, co-leading the inaugural Australian Council of Deans of Science Fellowship (2019-20). She contributes as AAUT assessor (2018-), editor of Advancing Scholarship and Research in Higher Education (2020-) and Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice (2018-2024). She is Director, Open Access Publishing Association (OAPA). She provides higher education services through Jo-Anne Kelder Consulting. Her focus and expertise are developing academic capability to embed scholarship and research informed teaching into course curricula, writing collaboratively for publishing impact and providing review services for grants and awards applications.

Join us in our LinkedIn Group: HERDSA SoTL SIG https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14343410/

Further information: Feel free to contact us via email as well: herdsa.sotl.sig@gmail.com

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The HERDSA Pedagogy of Student Belonging and Wellbeing Special Interest Group Meeting
Thursday September 25th, 12-1 pm (AEST)

The HERDSA Pedagogy of Student Belonging and Wellbeing Special Interest Group is having its first official online meeting. Please join us on Thursday September 25th, 12-1 pm (ACT).

We hope to bring together a community of educators dedicated to fostering student connection, wellbeing, and engagement through evidence-informed and inclusive teaching practices. Our emphasis is on pedagogy that directly supports students, shaping learning environments where all feel included, valued, and able to thrive. We invite academics, professional staff, and educational developers to join us in sharing practice, building resources, and advancing SoTL in this space. Whether you are new to this area or already deeply engaged, we welcome you to collaborate with us in creating meaningful change in higher education.

Further information: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14727248/

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Register now for the HERDSA Academic Development SIG webinar
Tuesday, 14 Oct, 1pm - 2pm AEDT

The HERDSA Academic Development Special Interest Group (SIG) brings together colleagues from across Australia and New Zealand—and you don’t need to be a HERDSA member to join us.

Come along to connect with peers and hear directly from the editors of the International Journal for Academic Development
• Get insights on the journal’s scope, trending topics, and pathways to publishing.
• Ask your questions directly to the editors.
• Take part in a breakout chat to connect with colleagues from other institutions and grow your network.

Colleagues are welcome, so feel free to pass this invitation along to anyone who may benefit from attending (no HERDSA membership required).

This event is part of our ongoing series designed to support and connect everyone working in Academic Development.

Further information: olga.kozar@mq.edu.au or k.shoecraft@griffith.edu.au

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Abstract submissions are now open for HERDSA 2026!
Submissions close Friday 30 January 2026 (midnight AEST).

The Organising Committee invites you to share your research, practice, and ideas to help advance higher and tertiary education.

Presentation formats include:
• Showcase presentations
• Poster presentations
• Roundtable discussions (onsite only)

Present your work to an international audience across our conference themes, with opportunities to connect with colleagues from Singapore, Asia, Australia, and beyond. Can’t attend in person? Submit an abstract for our dedicated one-day virtual program.

Further information: https://conference.herdsa.org.au/2026/abstracts/

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Are you interested in becoming an 'evidence-based HE educator'?

Module 2 of the newly developed HERDSA SoTL Modules explores how evidence can support and enhance your teaching practice. SoTL isn’t just about reflecting on what works in the classroom —it’s also about using research to inform your decisions, improve student learning, and contribute to the broader conversation on teaching and learning in higher education.

In Module 2, we’ll introduce you to SoTL literature, explore why engaging with research matters, and help you find practical ways to fit it into your busy schedule.
SoTL research has grown rapidly.
- But where do you start?
- Which journals or articles are relevant to you?
- And how can you make engaging with SoTL work for your teaching style?

Module 2 of the newly developed HERDSA SoTL Modules will help you answer those questions, giving you simple strategies to make SoTL part of your professional growth—without feeling overwhelmed.

Further information: Enquire today: https://forms.office.com/r/pkXF0BN5F4

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2025 CRADLE International Symposium: Expert panel - 'Assessment design in higher ed: Changing practices for a world with AI'
Wednesday 17 September - 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm (AEST)

This year’s CRADLE International Symposium - ‘Assessment design in higher education: Changing practices for a world with AI’ - seeks to draw from theory and empirical research to unpack the broad range of contentions emerging about AI and assessment in higher education. As a pivotal highlight of the Symposium program we are pleased to invite you to an interactive public panel event.

Designing university assessment to account for the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has proved to be difficult and contentious. Across the globe, many academics are making claims that assessment designs and systems need to be completely reconsidered. But the fundamentals of assessment in terms of its purposes may still hold true and many of the problems that are faced in implementing new regimes are challenges that already existed. So what, if anything, has changed? What are the tensions that continue to bedevil us? What conceptual or theoretical framings help us make sense of the things that change and the things that stay the same?

Facilitated by CRADLE’s Professor Phillip Dawson, this panel discussion will feature a national and international cast of eminent higher education assessment researchers. The panel will reflect on the discussions held throughout the symposium and offer potential directions for future research in the intersections between university assessment and AI.

Panellists
• Professor Jason Lodge, Director of the Learning, Instruction, and Technology Lab and Professor of Educational Psychology, School of Education, The University of Queensland
• Assistant Professor Jiahui (Jess) Luo, Faculty of Education and Human Development, the Education University of Hong Kong
• Professor Jan McArthur, Professor in Higher Education and Social Justice and Head of Department in the Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University
• Associate Professor Nicole Pepperell, Teaching & Curriculum Team (TACT), Education Portfolio, University of Technology Sydney

Join us in person at Deakin Downtown or online for the second seminar in CRADLE's New Directions in AI Research and Practice series.

Further information: https://assessment-design-in-higher-ed-changing-practices-ai.eventbrite....

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New Universal Wellbeing Model and Evaluation Tool - Research Workshop (Online)
9 October 2025

Researchers, evaluators, and academics are invited to join an interactive online workshop introducing the Universal Wellbeing Model (UWM) and Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool (UWET). Developed through 16 years of research, UWM and UWET provide an evidence-based framework to advance wellbeing outcomes.

This half-day session will explore the research foundations of UWM and UWET, demonstrate their application in study, policy analysis, and evaluation, and provide practical strategies for embedding wellbeing into diverse contexts.

The workshop is suitable for researchers, postgraduate students, academic staff, and professionals across higher education, health, and social sectors who are seeking effective approaches to strengthen wellbeing outcomes.

Time: 9.30 am - 12.30 pm NZT
Delivery: Online (link provided upon registration)

Further information: https://www.freedom-ihe.ac.nz/wellbeing-events/new-universal-wellbeing-m...

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The road behind and the journey ahead: CRADLE 10th anniversary celebration event
Wednesday 15 October - 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm (AEDT)

Deakin University's Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE) celebrates its 10th birthday in 2025. From its modest beginnings with Foundation Director Professor David Boud, CRADLE has grown in reputation and influence as its members have pursued a research agenda encompassing assessing for learning, learning in a digital world, and assessing through and for work.

What is the CRADLE model and how does it seek to influence teaching, learning and assessment in higher education? In what areas is it making a difference?

Join us at Deakin Downtown or online to celebrate 10 years of CRADLE, as the current team - co-directors Prof. David Boud and Prof. Phillip Dawson, Prof. Margaret Bearman, A/Prof. Joanna Tai, Dr Juuso Nieminen, Dr Thomas Corbin, and Dr Jack Walton - reflects on our successes and what still lies ahead.

Further information: https://cradle-10th-anniversary-celebration.eventbrite.com.au/?aff=herdsa

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The 5th National Symposium on the Student Experience and Wellbeing in Higher Education
Friday 24 October 2025

Higher education is undergoing a profound transformation. Many young people are questioning the value and relevance of a university education. Fewer students are coming to campus or engaging in the social and relational fabric of university life beyond mandatory classes. Meanwhile, institutions face shifting expectations and rising mental health concerns among students, in addition to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence. In this evolving context, universities must rethink how they foster student engagement, connection, and wellbeing.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on reimagining the student experience and enhancing student wellbeing in a rapidly changing world.

Get your tickets now: https://go.unimelb.edu.au/87gp

Further information: SEnW-Symposium@unimelb.edu.au

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New IJAD Call for Papers: Navigating the Future of Academic Development
Proposals due October 31, 2025 | Manuscripts due May 1, 2026 | Anticipated publication in March 2027.

The International Journal for Academic Development invites contributions that will inform and advance our work over the next decade and beyond, especially as higher education faces an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) landscape. SThe editorial team for this special issue is Donna Ellis (University of Waterloo, Canada), Suzanne Le-May Sheffield (Dalhousie University, Canada), Kiruthika Ragupathi (National University of Singapore, Singapore), Gonzalo Zapata (Universidad de Talca and P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile), and Gert Young (IJAD; Stellenbosch University, South Africa).

Please see the IJAD website for more information: https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/navigating-the-future-...

Further information: https://think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issues/navigating-the-future-...

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Announcing International Journal for Academic Development's Issue 3 (2025)

IJAD announces Issue 3, 2025: Resilience in Academic Development

"Resilience becomes increasingly critical in today’s higher education environment, which faces numerous challenges and disruptions. Academic developers are in a unique position to assist in facilitating resilience at individual, departmental, and institutional levels."

Editorial by Elisa K. Bone, Cormac McGrath, Tracy X.P. Zou, & Kwong Nui Sim

Further information: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rija20/30/3?nav=tocList

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New articles in Higher Education Research and Development

Do not leave your values at the door; the permissibility of activism in the lecture hall, Joshua M. Nooij, Nina D. H. Collin & Floris van den Berg, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2514508

Ontological design of higher education: universities as catalysts for pluriversal futures and societal transitions, Kimmel Chamat Garcés, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2514507

Caring for educational concerns, Liesbeth Noordegraaf-Eelens, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2514499

Centring first nations knowings in the literature review: a focus on decolonising law curriculum, Alison Owens, May Fong Cheong, Jessica Russ-Smith, Joe Campana & Mark Lyall, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2514505

Deepening relational capacity to confront the polycrisis in higher education and beyond, Sharon Stein, Vanessa Andreotti, Jean-Paul Restoule, Rose Vukovic, Catherine McGregor, Leslee Francis Pelton, Sandra Hundza, Todd Milford, Wendy Seager, Jasdeep Randhawa, Lisa Brunner & Aida Mohajeri, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2525109

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In the spirit of reconciliation HERDSA acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australasia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

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