Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
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* HERDSA Blog Post: Securing assessments is a waste of time in the GenAI era
* HERDSA Assessment Quality SIG – First Meeting of 2026
* HERDSA SoTL SIG -- Next Friday! -- Scholarly teaching: First steps to SoTL
* HERDSA Grants Open
* Save the date! TERNZ conference 2026: 25-27 November, Auckland
* CRADLE Seminar Series: 'Preparing graduates for an AI-evolving world (of work)'
* CRADLE Seminar Series: 'Manifesto for feedback in the age of artificial intelligence'
* Registration open - Webinar 25 March 2026- Identity in Teaching and Learning (2)
* Research project on students' experiences of WIL
* JANZSSA Special Issue — Addressing Gender-based Violence in Tertiary Institutions
* 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: Securing assessments is a waste of time in the GenAI era
Daniel Andrews, Georgina Stephens & Tim Fawns, 11 February 2026
Daniel , Georgina & Tim unpack the argument that securing assessment in the genAI era is a waste of time; and in doing so lead us to reconsider what really matters when we assess students.
Read more: https://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-connect/securing-assessments-waste-time-gen...
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HERDSA Assessment Quality SIG – First Meeting of 2026
Thursday 19th February, 1-2pm (AEDT)\
Come and joins us for an informal meet and greet.
Let’s get together to share ideas, network with colleagues, and talk about assessment and feedback which matters to you most. We discuss together our plans for 2026 SIG events and possibilities for communication and collaborations.
DATE: Thursday 19th February, 1-2pm (AEDT)
Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/2afe5jzx
We look forward to seeing you at the first Assessment SIG meeting of the year; and welcome any new members to our SIG.
Co-chairs: thomas.wanner@adelaide.edu.au; Khanna_priya05@yahoo.com
Further information: thomas.wanner@adelaide.edu.au
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HERDSA SoTL SIG -- Next Friday! -- Scholarly teaching: First steps to SoTL
Friday, 20 February 2026 - 12–1pm AEDT (NSW/VIC); 11am–12pm AEST (QLD time)
Welcome back to the SoTL SIG for 2026! We have a great year planned for our SIG, and we are starting with scholarly teaching.
Scholarly teaching is an important underlying skill to help you develop as SoTL scholar. Join us as we discuss how to get these foundations in place, use them to evaluate and improve your teaching, and engage with your scholarly community.
Presenter: Dr Julia Savage (Deakin University)
Register here: https://unisq.zoom.us/meeting/register/LCd16NSwTD2N9ecfXKWzOg
*Register for one or all our SIGs this year!*
Join our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14343410/
Further information: Contact the SoTL SIG at herdsa.sotl.sig@gmail.com
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HERDSA Grants Open
3 December 2025 to 20 March 2026
HERDSA offers grants to HERDSA members to fund research and/or development projects on teaching and learning in higher education that directly align to the mission of HERDSA. In the 2026 round, up to ten grants of AUD$5000 each are available (plus GST for expenses accruing in Australia). Priority for one grant will be given to applicants identifying as Indigenous/First Nations (e.g., Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pacific Nations).
The call for 2026 HERDSA Grant applications opens in December 2025. Applications close on Friday 20th March 2026 by 6pm (AEDT). Successful applicants will be informed by the end of May 2025. Grant holders have one year to complete their projects. Grant progress reports are due end of January 2027 and final reports end of June 2027.
Further information: https://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-grants-scheme
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Save the date! TERNZ conference 2026
25-27 November, Auckland
The HERDSA NZ Branch Committee is pleased to announce that the 2026 TERNZ conference will be hosted by the Business School, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.
Please save the dates 25-27 November 2026 in your calendars.
Please sign up to receive the newsletter to be kept informed: https://herdsa.org.nz/contact-us
The HERDSA NZ Branch Committee look forward to seeing you there.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/15538045/
Further information: https://herdsa.org.nz/contact-us
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CRADLE Seminar Series: 'Preparing graduates for an AI-evolving world (of work)'
Wednesday 18 March - 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm (AEDT)
Register now for the next CRADLE seminar on 18 March. You'll hear from Deakin's Dr Danni Hamilton, A/Prof. Lauren Hansen and Prof. Phillip Dawson as they share six curriculum-wide recommendations to prepare graduates for the AI-evolving world (of work).
AI is reshaping professional work, creating ethical, technical, and creative challenges that higher education must address or risk leaving graduates unprepared. Curricula need to go beyond safeguarding assessments to actively develop the capabilities students will need to succeed in the AI-evolving workplace. To address this challenge, six curriculum-wide recommendations are proposed. These recommendations respond pragmatically to sector and employer needs and offer a roadmap for curriculum transformation, ensuring higher education fulfils its core purpose while preparing graduates for an unknowable future world (of work).
To learn more about the recommendations and how they can help us prepare graduates for increasingly unknowable futures, join us at 2.00 pm (AEDT) in person at Deakin Downtown or online.
Further information: https://cradle-seminar-preparing-graduates-for-an-AI-evolving-world.even...
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CRADLE Seminar Series: 'Manifesto for feedback in the age of artificial intelligence'
Wednesday 18 February - 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm (AEDT)
The first seminar in CRADLE's 2026 Seminar Series introduces a new manifesto for feedback in the age of artificial intelligence.
In May 2025, seventeen researchers with expertise across higher education, health professional education, feedback and digital education came together to discuss future directions for feedback research at the University of Copenhagen.
Out of these conversations, a working party constructed a manifesto for feedback in the age of artificial intelligence, led by Professor Naomi Winstone from the University of Surrey. This always-in-progress document offers a values-led compass to guide decision making as educators and institutions are faced with as-yet-unknown futures where AI can be integrated into feedback processes.
In this panel, we interrogate potential future scenarios, and then ‘test’ the manifesto against a series of provocations offered by these possible futures. Panellists include Prof. Naomi Winstone (University of Surrey), A/Prof. Karen Gravett (University of Surrey), A/Prof. Christy Noble (University of Queensland), Dr Anna Jones (King's College London), and A/Prof. Kelli Nicola-Richmond (Deakin University), introduced by CRADLE's Prof. Margaret Bearman.
Join us online at the special time of 6.00 pm (AEDT) / 7.00 am (GMT) for a thought-provoking conversation to launch CRADLE's 2026 Seminar Series.
Further information: https://manifesto-for-feedback-in-age-of-AI.eventbrite.com.au/?aff=herdsa
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Registration open - Webinar 25 March 2026- Identity in Teaching and Learning (2)
25 March 2026
The ISSOTL Grand Challenges for SoTL subgroup working on the theme of how identities affect teaching and learning is hosting a second free webinar:
Wednesday 25 March
1300-1400GMT
Zoom
Papers and Lightning Talks:
Welcoming class into educational spaces (Rachael O'Connor, Stacey Mottershaw and Nadine Cavigioli)
SHIFTing Identity: A Framework for Building Professional Identity Formation in Health Professions Education (Sally Arif)
Equity, Care, and Connection: Reframing Blended Learning through CALD Student Identities (Chen Zheng)
Finding my space as a scholar: An autoethnographic journey of identity formation through scholarship (Raazia Moosa)
Belonging as second career academics (Catriona Hyde and Lisa Wakefield)
Registration: https://york-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lfYP6BaLQEGz9GMoYYHIFA
Questions? Please contact Dr Carol Robinson, co-chair of the ISSOTL Grand Challenge #4 subgroup. Email: carol.robinson@york.ac.uk
Further information: https://york-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lfYP6BaLQEGz9GMoYY
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Research project on students' experiences of WIL
Dear Colleagues,
We’re conducting a research project exploring the experiences of students during work-integrated learning (WIL), placements or internships—particularly moments of tension or discomfort that may have led them to conceal aspects of themselves or their actions.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the following invitation with students who have recently completed a placement (and please let us know if there are organizational research requirements we need to meet – we are happy to work with you!).
Have you recently completed a placement or internship?
We’re inviting students to take part in a research study exploring the challenges and tensions experienced during placements—such as using generative AI tools or choosing not to share aspects of their identity with their host organisation.
Participation options:
• Complete a short anonymous online survey (with a chance to win 1 of 5 $50 gift cards)
• Take part in a 45-minute online interview (participants will receive a $50 gift card)
Participation is voluntary and confidential, and students may opt out at any time. Their insights will help improve how universities and organisations support students during placements.
To participate or learn more, click here: https://tinyurl.com/WILchallenges
Questions? Email Kelli Nicola-Richmond (k.nicolarichmond@deakin.edu.au)
Thank you for helping us reach students who may be interested in contributing to this important research.
Warm regards,
Kelli Nicola-Richmond, Bonnie Dean, Joanna Tai, Jack Walton, Helen Walker, Margo Brewer and Michelle Eady
This study has received Deakin University ethics approval (2025/HE000683)
Further information: https://tinyurl.com/WILchallenges
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JANZSSA Special Issue — Addressing Gender-based Violence in Tertiary Institutions
The Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA) is very pleased to present a new special issue, Addressing Gender-based Violence in Tertiary Institutions.
Guest Editors Laura Burge, Friederike Gadow, and Elli Darwinkel deliver 14 insightful articles through this timely edition, exploring the research, policy, and practice shaping gender-based violence prevention and response in Australasia and beyond.
The issue was officially launched at a panel discussion on Wednesday 4 February, hosted with ANZSSA as part of the Directors of Student Services Australia and New Zealand (DOSSANZ) meeting.
The open access issue and webinar recording are now available on the JANZSSA website.
Further information: https://janzssa.scholasticahq.com/post/3721
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New articles in Higher Education Research and Development
How to ‘juggle all the competing demands’: advice to PhD mums from the lived experiences of other PhD mums, Shannon Mason, Susan Ledger & Melissa Bond, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2615296
Student evaluations of teaching: a comparative analysis of positive and negative perspectives in the academic discourse, Jon Hallsteinn Hallsson & Margret Sigrun Sigurdardottir, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2615305
Revisiting Goffman’s impression management: doctoral candidates’ identity management challenges, Morag Kennedy, S. Hussain & M. Cunliffe, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2602485
‘I have to think about what’s next’: a qualitative exploration of psychological well-being and self-management with humour among domestic and international university students, Rong Xing, Andrea E. Williamson & Jill Morrison, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2615309
Untangling graduate employability and work readiness to inform evidence-based practice in higher education, Catherine L. Caballero, Lauren Hansen, Arlene Walker, Caroline Rosenberg, Poppy Orr, Grace Claringbold, Vanessa L. Sturre & Loch Forsyth, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2615303
https://www.linkedin.com/company/herdjournal
https://bsky.app/profile/herdjournal.bsky.social
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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.