Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
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* HERDSA Connect: Who Do You Learn From? Why Conversations Matter
* HERDSA Community: Designing SoTL research for impact
* HERDSA SoTL SIG -- This Friday! -- Connect + Collaborate
* Final weeks for voting for HERDSA PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT ELECT
* AUT & HERDSA National Webinar Series 2026 – Session 2 Work-Integrated Learning (WIL): Building Sustainable Collaborative Partn
* SoTL for career-building: An online kōrero for education-focussed academics in Aotearoa New Zealand
* ASRHE Developmental Writing Workshops May 22
* Register for the talking about teaching and learning (TATAL) Pre-Conference Workshop
* Thinking of engaging in a scholarship project? Have you seen the newly updated HERDSA SoTL Modules?
* Call for Associate Editors & Reviewers – Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching
* CRADLE Seminar Series: ‘Entangled intelligence? Distributed cognition, AI agents, and assessment validity’
* JANZSSA PD opportunities coming up in May
* New book in short-term study abroad risk assessment and management
* 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 Connect: Who Do You Learn From? Why Conversations Matter
Nicole Reinke, Dongmei Li, & Jessica Borger, 15 April 2026
Nicole, Dongmei, & Jessica discuss the role of Talking About Teaching and Learning (TATAL) at the upcoming HERDSA conference and beyond.
Read more: https://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-connect/who-do-you-learn-why-conversations-...
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HERDSA Community: Designing SoTL research for impact
SoTL SIG | 26 MaRCH
The March SoTL SIG session focused on how practitioners can embed the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) more intentionally and sustainably within everyday teaching practice. The session was led by Dr Jo‑Anne Kelder, who presented a structured approach to SoTL organised around four interconnected practices: designing, doing, disseminating, and documenting. The session concluded with an interactive discussion on research evaluation, impact measurement, and strategic decision‑making in collaborative SoTL work. Questions explored issues such as developing evaluation frameworks within doctoral research, balancing multiple research collaborations, and maintaining coherence in a developing SoTL profile. The discussion reinforced the value of personal research planning and intentional decision‑making in building a meaningful and sustainable SoTL trajectory.
Read more or watch the presentation recording: https://herdsa.org.au/news/designing-sotl-research-impact
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HERDSA SoTL SIG -- This Friday! -- Connect + Collaborate
Friday, 17 April 2026 - 12–1pm AEST (NSW/VIC/QLD)
The April HERDSA SoTL SIG session will be a Connect & Collaborate session co‑facilitated by Dr Jennifer Sun (USyd) and Dr Mel Saligari (UniMelb), designed to welcome new members, reconnect returning members, and consolidate the strong start to the year.
This session will provide space to share interests, reflect on emerging SoTL ideas, and make connections across institutions and roles. It will also set the scene for our May co‑design session, set the scene for our May co‑design session, where we will explore co‑design in practice and pathways to impact.
Whether you are new to the SIG or have been involved for some time, this session offers a low‑pressure opportunity to connect, orient yourself to the community, and contribute to shaping the direction of our upcoming activities.
Missed one of our earlier SIG sessions?
You can read the community updates and view the recordings here:
- February – Scholarly teaching: First steps in SoTL
Recap: https://herdsa.org.au/news/scholarly-teaching-first-steps-sotl-dr-robyn-yucel
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZxM9MUsDj4 -
March – Designing SoTL research for impact
Recap: https://herdsa.org.au/news/designing-sotl-research-impact
Recording: https://youtu.be/X00KTtfzMmI
Register here: https://unisq.zoom.us/meeting/register/LCd16NSwTD2N9ecfXKWzOg
*Register for one or all our SIGs this year!*
To stay connected, join our LinkedIn group:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14343410/
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Final weeks for voting for HERDSA PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT ELECT
Closes 24 April 2026
Voting is now open for the next HERDSA President/President Elect and closes at 5.00pm AEST on 24 April 2026.
The position of HERDSA President requires a three year commitment. For the first year, beginning at the 2026 conference in July, the successful candidate serves as President Elect, or the current President when already holding that position. From July 2027 the nominee elected as President for 2027-2029 has two years as President before another election is required. The maximum a President can serve is 6 years.
All HERDSA members are encouraged to vote.
You must log into the HERDSA web site and be a current HERDSA member to be eligible to vote.
Vote online at https://herdsa.org.au/president-elect-election-2026
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AUT & HERDSA National Webinar Series 2026 – Session 2 Work-Integrated Learning (WIL): Building Sustainable Collaborative Partn
Thursday, 30 April 2026 1:00pm – 2:00pm (AEDT)
Join us for the second session in the 2026 AAUT & HERDSA National Webinar Series, showcasing the innovative practices and insights of 2024 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) recipients.
This panel will explore Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and Collaborative Educational Partnerships, focusing on how universities and industry can work together to design meaningful, sustainable, and scalable WIL experiences.
Chaired by Prof Angela Carbone (RMIT, 1998 AAUT Award recipient), the panel features Dr Wayne Read (Deakin University – 2024 Citation), Dr Jessica Amy Sears (Charles Sturt University – 2024 Citation), and A/Prof Faith Kwa (Swinburne University – 2024 Citation). Panelists will share practical strategies for building and sustaining partnerships, co-designing WIL experiences, and addressing common challenges such as scaling, quality, and equitable access.
This session will provide valuable insights for educators, academic leaders, and professional staff involved in WIL and partnership development.
Further information: Register here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhfwcde
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SoTL for career-building: An online kōrero for education-focussed academics in Aotearoa New Zealand
Tuesday 12th May, 1-2 PM (invite attached)
https://auckland.zoom.us/j/99949875429
Globally, the importance of career pathways for teaching-focussed academics is increasingly recognised and a growing area of interest.
The number of teaching-focused academic roles in universities has been expanding. Alongside the trend in numbers is the recognition of a need for structured and flexible career pathways for such individuals and institutional needs for a scholarly approach to teaching and learning. New Zealand universities, to varying degrees, have been considering how this can be achieved.
This online workshop invites teaching-focused academics to pool their concerns, experiences and advice to explore how scholarship in teaching and learning can be fostered, demonstrated and embedded within transparent career pathways.
Attendees will:
- Discuss teaching-focused academic career paths and the role of the scholarship of teaching and learning
- Learn about the range of support that is available from HERDSA
- Exchange information on resources to support engagement in SoTL
- Discuss opportunities for dissemination of scholarship and profile building
Although this session is targeting teaching-focussed academics, anybody interested is welcome to attend. Please feel free to share with your networks.
HERDSA NZ Branch
Web: https://herdsa.org.nz/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/15538045/
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ASRHE Developmental Writing Workshops May 22
May 22 and at HERDSA Conference
Have you been accepted to present at HERDSA or another Higher Education Learning and Teaching Conference?
We encourage you to work in developing your presentation into a research paper.
ASRHE (Advancing Scholarship and Research in Higher Education), HERDSA’s developmental journal is hosting a series of developmental activities to support authors of the HERDSA Conference showcases, roundtables, and Poster Lightening Talks to develop their presentations into full papers to submit to ASRHE and other outlets.
In preparation, we are hosting a webinar in May, and this will be followed up with one-on-one sessions with the authors and ASRHE editors around the conference. We will guide you from concept to full written draft that you can refine and submit post-conference! This is an ideal opportunity for time-poor HE authors who need some guidance and a ‘bootcamp’ structure.
Initial webinar/workshop Title: Translating your abstract into a research paper: A Hands-On Workshop
May 22, 2026, 11AM-1:00PM (AEST)
Register at URL below:
Further information: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/23mswLHfQB
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Register for the talking about teaching and learning (TATAL) Pre-Conference Workshop
Register by 21 June 2026
Start your HERDSA conference experience with the TATAL program on 22nd June followed by a full-day TATAL Pre-Conference Workshop on Monday 6 July, from 8:30 to 4:15pm.
In this interactive program esp. the workshop, participants are guided to explore, develop, or consolidate their personal teaching philosophy. It will be especially valuable for those wishing to build towards reflective writing for HERDSA Fellowship applications.
The workshop also offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow teaching and learning practitioners in a meaningful way, exchange ideas, and reflect on practice in a collegial and encouraging space. This is also a starting point to join a community of practice with an on-going support and collaboration, if you wish to.
How to register: Please register for the workshop when completing your HERDSA conference registration.
Further information: Nicole: nreinke@usc.edu.au & Mei: mei.li1@jcu.edu,au
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Thinking of engaging in a scholarship project? Have you seen the newly updated HERDSA SoTL Modules?
Are you a member of HERDSA? Did you know that as part of your membership you have access to the newly updated HERDSA SoTL Modules. It's hard to believe that it has been nearly 6 months since the launch of the updated HERDSA SoTL Modules.
hese 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. Introducing SoTL – Explore its purpose and value in higher education.
2. Becoming an Evidence-Based Educator – Ground your practice in research.
3. Foundations of Producing SoTL – Scope and project planning.
4. SoTL Research Methods – Action research, surveys, observations, interviews, and more.
5. Designing your SoTL project – From concept to plan
6. Theoretical frameworks in SoTL – Making your thinking visible.
7. From vision to reality – Developing an armoury of tools for engaging in SoTL research
8. Analysing & Interpreting Data – Turn raw data into meaningful insights
9. Disseminating SoTL findings
10. Enhancing the impact of your SoTL research
Each module takes you through four phases of learning—Discover, Explore, Engage, Connect—with opportunities to dive deeper if you choose.
Accessing the HERDSA SoTL Modules
The redeveloped HERDSA SoTL Modules are available exclusively to HERDSA members.
To access the modules:
Log in to My Dashboard via the Member Login using your HERDSA membership email.
If you’ve forgotten your password, click "Forgot my password" to reset it.
Once logged in, click the SoTL page link in the right-hand menu for full details on accessing the modules.
Not a member yet?
If you're a non-member and would like to request access to the HERDSA SoTL Modules, please complete this form: HERDSA SOTL Modules Access: https://forms.office.com/r/qtb6nfxqAd
Further information: Please contact Alice Brown for further details or questions - Alic.Brown@unisq.edu.au
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Call for Associate Editors & Reviewers – Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching
28 April 2026 (AEST)
The Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching (JALT) invites expressions of interest from scholars to join our expert reviewer pool and to be considered for Associate Editor roles.
JALT is a diamond open access journal owned and sponsored by Kaplan Business School Australia – no fees for authors or readers. We publish high-quality work on educational practices, with a focus on higher education and SoTL across disciplines.
Ranked Q1 in Scopus (Top 1% in Education globally; H-index 21; SJR 1.761), JALT provides a platform for innovative research in teaching and learning, curriculum, assessment, policy, and educational technology.
If you are interested in contributing to our scholarly community, please submit your EOI here by COB Tuesday 28 April 2026: https://forms.office.com/r/rVbQaEemMi?origin=lprLink (For applicants of the Associate Editor role, you will be notified of the results via email within 4 weeks after the deadline.)
When completing the form, please include 3-5 keywords of your research expertise and indicate your preferred research methods (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, mixed) in Question 18 (“Availability and Final Notes”).
Further information: https://jalt.open-publishing.org/index.php/jalt/index
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Connections Matter: Building Teaching and Education Focused Academic Careers Across Borders
21 April 2026 6pm - 7pm AEST
Teaching and education focused academic roles are growing rapidly across Australia and the UK, yet pathways to recognition, identity, and impact remain unclear for many.
This session brings together the Australian Teaching and Education Focused Academic (TEFA) Network and the UK National Learning and Teaching Focused Network for a cross-sector conversation on building careers in this evolving space.
The discussion will focus on how academics define their scholarship and specialism, develop national and international profiles, and navigate recognition and progression.
Designed for colleagues at all career stages, this interactive session offers a valuable opportunity to connect across contexts, share experiences, and gain practical insights.
Further information: https://events.humanitix.com/acrossborders
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CRADLE Seminar Series: ‘Entangled intelligence? Distributed cognition, AI agents, and assessment validity’
Wednesday 13 May - 2.00 pm - 3.30 pm (AEST)
Is generative AI fundamentally restructuring how students think? And what might this mean for assessment? Register now for CRADLE’s seminar on 13 May to hear more from UQ’s Professor Jason Lodge on distributed cognition, AI agents, and assessment validity.
The proliferation of generative AI has sparked a crisis of inference in higher education. However, current responses often rely on an outdated ‘internalist’ model of learning that views cognition as occurring strictly within the individual mind. This seminar argues that the emergence of sophisticated AI agents necessitates a shift toward a distributed cognition framework and explores how students’ thinking infrastructure is being fundamentally restructured. Moving beyond the ‘AI as Oracle’ paradigm to consider ‘AI as Agentic Partner’, the session will examine the implications for assessment and challenge participants to consider the hard question of assessment: how do we generate valid evidence of learning when the process of learning has itself been transformed?
To learn more about the entangled nature of distributed cognition, generative AI and assessment, join us at 2.00 pm (AEST) in person at Deakin Downtown or online.
Further information: https://cradle-seminar-entangled-intelligence-cognition-ai-assessment.ev...
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JANZSSA PD opportunities coming up in May
The Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (JANZSSA) team are excited to share the first sessions in the 2026 professional development calendar, shaped by your feedback and tailored to support your writing goals.
Telling impactful stories with data: Practical guidance for using data in your writing
Friday 8 May, 1:00 pm–2:00 pm AEST
Professional staff and less-experienced authors will learn how to present data clearly and effectively in this practical webinar with Dr Christine Devine and Dr Dana Burfeind.
Writing workshop — Shut Up and Write with Megan Pozzi
Tuesday 12 May, 2:00 pm–3:00 pm AEST
In the first of the 2026 workshop series, Megan Pozzi will provide expert guidance and practical strategies for authors of all levels of experience and at all stages of the writing process.
Register for these free online sessions via JANZSSA’s PD and Resources page.
Further information: https://janzssa.scholasticahq.com/pages/858-pd-resources
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New book in short-term study abroad risk assessment and management
Short-term study abroad is often celebrated as transformative, but what if we’ve been asking the wrong questions all along? For decades, these programs have been justified through the language of cultural awareness, personal growth, and employability. Yet beneath this narrative sits a largely unexamined reality: short-term international experiences are complex, high-risk educational environments shaped by many factors. This book challenges the sector to rethink short-term study abroad risk assessment and management - not as a “value-add” experience, but as part of a purposely designed curriculum. It argues that risk is not something to be managed at the margins, but a central organising principle of learning design. By bringing together a teacher's lived experience, experiential learning theory, partnership dynamics, and risk frameworks, it exposes the gaps in how we conceptualise and deliver these programs. If higher education is serious about global learning, then it must move beyond aspiration and confront the realities of practice, where pedagogy, partnerships, and risk actually intersect.
Further information: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1464625
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New articles in Higher Education Research and Development
The question of efficiency: teaching and technology in higher education, Karen Gravett, Margaret Bearman, Phill Dawson & Lasse X. Jensen, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2652341
An empirical analysis on the impact of NEP 2020 on service quality of higher education in India, Pawan Kataria & Chetna Sharma Rajput, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2654608
Gender and higher education: mapping gender-specific publications and future research agenda through bibliometric analysis, Zumrad Kataeva, Zhanna Izekenova & Valeriya Roshka, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2649005
Exploring the relationship between representation in the curricula and students’ engagement, Stacie Jade Gray, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2649003
From archipelagos to lichens: reimagining academic life through contrasting metaphors of fragmentation and entanglement, Ian M. Kinchin, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2652340
‘I know what I want … and then I'll find ways to achieve that’: Chinese international graduates’ agency in transitioning to the Australian workplace, Zuocheng Zhang, Wei Wang & Toni Dobinson, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2639612
Integrating Universal Design for Learning in higher education: a scoping review of empirical studies, Ning Ren, Gary Yu Hin Lam, Yi Wang, Ronnel B. King & Vivian W. Y. Lee, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2627873
Master’s programmes at transnational higher education institutions in China: who enrols and why? Dandan Huang, Huan Li & Mei Lai, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2026.2654612
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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.