HERDSA Notices 13 August 2025

* HERDSA Blog Post: Why HERDSA Conference? Reflections on Shaping Education – Past, Present, and Future
* Pop it in your calendar - The HERDSA Online Engagement in HE SiG presents - A showcase of HERDSA conference presentations
* HERDSA SoTL SIG - August 2025 meeting - This Friday! --- Rethinking SoTL outputs: Scholarly inquiry beyond empirical studies
* HERDSA GRANTS 2026
* New HERDSA SoTL Modules Coming Soon – It all starts with a simple - I wonder?
* Now Open! – International Students - Study with CRADLE - Deakin University Postgraduate Research (DUPR) scholarship applications
* CRADLE webinar series: New Directions in AI Research and Practice - 'Student perspectives on AI in higher education'
* Bringing Student Voices into AI in Higher Education
* Invitation to submit an abstract for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Health Sciences Symposium 7th November
* Now Open! – Domestic Students - Study with CRADLE - Deakin University Postgraduate Research (DUPR) scholarship applications
* IJSaP Call for Papers: Special Section on Student-Staff Partnerships in the Global South
* Attention NZ members: Call for expressions of interest to join ATAIN - Aotearoa Tertiary AI Network
* Survey research: Supporting students with experiences of trauma in Australian Higher Education
* 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: Why HERDSA Conference? Reflections on Shaping Education – Past, Present, and Future
Shannon Johnston, 13 August 2025

Shannon Johnston (HERDSA 2025 conference Convenor) shares her reflections and highlights from the 2025 Perth conference.

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Pop it in your calendar - The HERDSA Online Engagement in HE SiG presents - A showcase of HERDSA conference presentations
Thursday 14th August, 2025 - 12–1:30pm AEST (Queensland time)

Join us for a dynamic snapshot of innovative practice and research! The HERDSA Online Engagement in HE SiG invites you to our Showcase of Presentations on Online Engagement in Higher Education, featuring lightning talks from HERDSA2025 conference presenters. Discover diverse approaches to fostering meaningful online student engagement — from practical teaching strategies and the role of humour, to new insights on access, equity, and the conditions that help online learners thrive. Bring your curiosity and questions for an interactive discussion on how these ideas might spark fresh connections and collaborations in your own context.**Everyone interested in online engagement in higher education is welcome!**

Further information: To register -https://lnkd.in/gsk6hw8F

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HERDSA SoTL SIG - August 2025 meeting - This Friday! --- Rethinking SoTL outputs: Scholarly inquiry beyond empirical studies
Friday, 15 August 2025, 12.00–1.00 pm AEST (NSW/VIC time)

Our August meeting will be a great one with a panel of SoTLers from all different areas. Take a peek at what we'll discuss!

Topic: Rethinking SoTL Outputs: Scholarly Inquiry Beyond Empirical Studies

Overview: Ethics approval is often seen as a major hurdle when embarking on a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) project. While important, the process can delay or even deter educators from sharing valuable insights. But not all SoTL work requires an ethics application. In this session, we’ll explore a range of publishable genres - including systematic literature reviews, reflective essays, and process articles - that offer rich scholarly contributions without needing ethics clearance.

Join our panel of academics and editors from USyd and UNSW as they share their experiences publishing in these alternative formats and offer practical guidance on getting started. We’ll also highlight journals that welcome these contributions and provide time for networking to foster cross-institutional collaborations.

Presenters: The Session Moderator is Professor Mary Wright, and the Panel Chair is Dr Jessica Frawley. Panel members include Dr Samantha Clarke, Dr Benjamin Miller, Dr Gabi Nudelman, Dr Billy C.C. Chan, and Dr Elliot Varoy.

Join our LinkedIn group to stay connected: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14343410/

Further information: Please feel free to contact the HERDSA SoTL SIG at herdsa.sotl.sig@gmail.com

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HERDSA GRANTS 2026
Opening 1 December 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.

The call for 2026 HERDSA Grant applications opens in December 2025. Applications close on Friday 13th March 2026 by 6pm (AEDT).
Guidelines for 2026 are available on the website.

Further information: https://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-grants-scheme

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New HERDSA SoTL Modules Coming Soon – It all starts with a simple - I wonder?
Launch of new HERDSA SoTL Modules early November, 2025

HERDSA is excited to announce the upcoming release of the newly updated Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Modules.
These modules are designed to:
- Introduce the nature, purpose, and process of SoTL
- Build your capacity to develop and refine your SoTL knowledge and skills
- Inspire your curiosity to improve student engagement, equity, success, and learning
***Follow the journey from curiosity to real impact.

You’ll walk alongside a group of educators as they move from that first “I wonder…” through each step of a SoTL project, encountering interactive challenges, guided reflections, and practical examples along the way.

Module highlights include:
1. Why SoTL Matters – Explore its purpose and value in higher education.
2. Becoming an Evidence-Based Educator – Ground your practice in research.
3. Foundations of Producing SoTL – Ethics, scope, and project planning.
4. SoTL Research Methods – Action research, surveys, observations, interviews, and more.
5. Theoretical Frameworks – Connect your inquiry to wider scholarly conversations.
6. Designing & Implementing Your Project – Navigate real-world hurdles in data collection.
7. Analysing & Interpreting Data – Turn raw data into meaningful insights.
8. Disseminating Your Findings & Achieving Impact – Influence colleagues, inform policy, and spark change.
Each module takes you through four phases of learning—Discover, Explore, Engage, Connect—with opportunities to dive deeper if you choose.

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

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Now Open! – International Students - Study with CRADLE - Deakin University Postgraduate Research (DUPR) scholarship applications
24 August 2025

If you’re an international student specifically interested in the areas of assessment and/or digital learning, you can apply for a scholarship through the Faculty of Arts and Education to undertake your research with the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE). The successful applicant will work on a project that considers assessment and/or digital learning in higher education, and will contribute evidence to inform assessment research, policy, and practice. We welcome applications that align to CRADLE’s research themes, and encourage applicants to consult our list of prospective topics.

Scholarship applications are open to international students and your candidature will commence in February 2026. To be competitive for a scholarship you should already have an H1, first class, or 80%+ grade in your previous studies, especially in the research thesis component, or equivalent demonstrated high quality research experience. The scholarship will be awarded on a full-time basis based at CRADLE’s Melbourne CBD location, Deakin Downtown.

Further information: https://blogs.deakin.edu.au/cradle/apply-for-a-2026-phd-scholarship-now/

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CRADLE webinar series: New Directions in AI Research and Practice - 'Student perspectives on AI in higher education'
Friday 29 August 2025 - 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm (AEST)

While much of the debate about AI in higher education continues to focus on institutional policies and concerns for academic integrity, less attention has been paid to the stories of students themselves. What motivates students to use or avoid GenAI? How do they weigh risks and benefits? What tensions do they grapple with as they integrate these technologies into their studies?

Facilitated by CRADLE's Dr Jack Walton, this panel will feature researchers from the "AI in Higher Education" project: a large multi-institutional collaboration established in 2024 with the aim of foregrounding the student voice on AI. Reflecting on the work of the project to date, the panel will discuss what has been learned so far about students' perspectives and practices for studying in a world where AI has become commonplace. The panel will discuss key findings emerging from the project to consider implications for higher education learning and teaching, and directions that research and practice need to take next.
Join us online for the first webinar in CRADLE's New Directions in AI Research and Practice series.

Panellists
• Professor Kelly Matthews, Professor of Higher Education, Institute of Teaching and Learning Innovation, University of Queensland
• Associate Professor Tim Fawns, Monash Education Academy, Monash University
• Professor Michael Henderson, Professor of Digital Futures, Director of the Educational Design and Innovation Hub, Faculty of Education, Monash University
• Associate Professor Nicole Pepperell, Teaching & Curriculum Team (TACT), Education Portfolio, University of Technology Sydney

New Directions in AI Research and Practice
As generative artificial intelligence continues to transform higher education, the research landscape has begun to transition from speculative perspectives toward deeper empirical and theoretical insights. This webinar series brings together leading researchers to discuss what is being learned about AI's impact on teaching, learning, and assessment, and to chart pathways forward in both research and practice.

The panels in this series will speak to three critical facets of higher education in a time of AI: how students are working with AI, changing assessment design practices, and assessment security. We hope that you can join us for this series of rich and timely discussions.

Further information: https://student-perspectives-on-ai-in-higher-ed.eventbrite.com.au

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Bringing Student Voices into AI in Higher Education
3 September 2025 2:00pm–3:30pm

Students must be involved in shaping AI practices in higher education.

If you want to hear how this is already happening in Australia and Pakistan, join our free online event: Bringing Student Voices into AI in Higher Education

This international collaboration between The University of Queensland (Australia) and the Learning Institute (LLI) at Lahore University of Management Sciences (Pakistan) will share practical, student-informed approaches to AI in HE.

You’ll hear about:
– Findings from over 600 UQ students with disabilities on their experiences of AI in learning
– How UQ’s AI Student Hub is being refreshed with students and student unions
– How LUMS is partnering with students to shape AI policies and teaching practices
– Opportunities to connect across institutions and roles
– Insights to take back into your own teaching, learning, or policy context

3 September 2025 2:00pm–3:30pm (AEST)
Register: https://itali.uq.edu.au/event/session/11775
Hosted by UQ and LUMS (LLI)

Further information: https://itali.uq.edu.au/event/session/11775

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Invitation to submit an abstract for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Health Sciences Symposium 7th November
8 September

Please join us for a hybrid professional development event hosted by the Learning and Teaching Unit in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland Friday 7th November, 2025

This free scholarship of teaching and learning symposium will bring together experts from diverse health science disciplines, with a focus on equity in education, rural health and global education.

Poster and presentation abstract submissions are welcome.

Please submit your abstract throughhttps://auckland.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b12HWnsTpWSIMu2 Submission deadline is midnight Monday 8th September, 2025

Further information: To register your interest in attending the symposium please use link https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/calendar_event/sotl-in-the-health-scien...

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Now Open! – Domestic Students - Study with CRADLE - Deakin University Postgraduate Research (DUPR) scholarship applications
24 October 2025

If you’re a domestic student specifically interested in the areas of assessment and/or digital learning, you can apply for a scholarship through the Faculty of Arts and Education to undertake your research with CRADLE. The successful applicant will work on a project that considers assessment and/or digital learning in higher education, and will contribute evidence to inform assessment research, policy, and practice. We welcome applications that align to CRADLE’s research themes, and encourage applicants to consult our list of prospective topics.

Scholarship applications are open to domestic students and your candidature will commence in February 2026. To be competitive for a scholarship you should already have an H1, first class, or 80%+ grade in your previous studies, especially in the research thesis component, or equivalent demonstrated high quality research experience. The scholarship will be awarded on a full-time basis based at CRADLE’s Melbourne CBD location, Deakin Downtown.

Further information: https://blogs.deakin.edu.au/cradle/apply-for-a-2026-phd-scholarship-now/

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IJSaP Call for Papers: Special Section on Student-Staff Partnerships in the Global South

The International Journal for Students as Partners is calling for submissions for a special section on student-staff partnerships in the Global South, focusing on collaborative engagement for equity and empowerment in higher education. Proposals (300-500 words) are due 14 September 2025, with full papers due 31 January 2026. For full details and submission information, see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S_8ASihEofOZBT9DguloWWBeNYYWMVqy/view?p...

Visit our website to read the announcement https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/ijsap/announcement/view/99.

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Attention NZ members: Call for expressions of interest to join ATAIN - Aotearoa Tertiary AI Network

We’re excited to announce the launch of ATAIN, the Aotearoa Tertiary Artificial Intelligence Network (hosted by FLANZ https://flanz.org.nz/atain/).

ATAIN is a New Zealand based community of practice for educators who want to contribute to shaping tertiary education in the context of AI. ATAIN aims to generate discussion, share knowledge and resources, and connect people from universities, polytechnics, PTEs and Wānanga.

We are hoping that this community of practice will support wānanga style discussions where people can openly express their views about teaching and learning in the age of AI and find diverse effective ways to move tertiary education forward, in line with their personal and institutional values.

We are now calling for expressions of interest to join the ATAIN community of practice. If this sounds like you, please fill out the following Expression of Interest form: https://vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8chivnSyXBKaUB0. Please complete the form by the end of August.

We aim to host our kick-off hui in September and will contact those who have registered.

Ngā mihi nui,
The ATAIN Steering Group
Associate Professor Irina Elgort, Te Kōtuinga Mātauranga - Centre for Academic Development, Te Herenga Waka - VUW
Stella McIntosh, Principal Adviser Academic Integrity, Te Kōtuinga Mātauranga - Centre for Academic Development Te Herenga Waka - VUW
Dr Mark Nichols, Executive Director, Learning Design & Development Open Polytechnic NZ
Associate Professor James Oldfield, Manager Digital Learning, Te Puna Ako, Learning and Teaching Unit

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Survey research: Supporting students with experiences of trauma in Australian Higher Education

We're researching trauma awareness in Australian higher education to help universities develop approaches that are more responsive to the needs of students with trauma experiences. With over one in four Australians experiencing complex trauma, and trauma significantly affecting student success, your insights matter. Any Australian university employee who teaches, supervises, or supports students can participate (academic and professional staff; all contract types welcome). We want perspectives from staff with all levels of familiarity with trauma, including those with little or no prior knowledge. The survey should take around 10-15 minutes. For more details and to participate: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/traumaawarenesshe/

Further information: mmartinussen@csu.edu.au

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New articles in Higher Education Research and Development

Narratives of success: high-achieving women with disabilities navigating higher education in Australia, Lauren E. Lindstrom, Rahul Ganguly & Antoinette R. Banks, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2536280

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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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