Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia
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* HERDSA Blog Post: GenAI – Fears, Opportunities & Possible Solutions
* HERDSA Executive Nominations 2025
* Call for nominations for HERDSA Life Memberships
* Are you thinking of a SoTL project or getting bang for buck from your SoTL work? Drop in and join me for a coffee and to chat
* TATAL Webinar 2025
* HERDSA GRANTS 2025 now open
* HERDSA Assessment Quality SIG - Meaningful Assessments in Higher Education
* 2025 CAULLT Grant Information webinar
* CRADLE Seminar Series - Programmatic Assessment: Insights from Theory and Practice
* It's not too late - Seeking experienced online teachers to support a HERDSA project on engagement strategies valued by students
* New online first 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
Unsubscribe or change your email details at http://mailman.anu.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/herdsa
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HERDSA Blog Post: GenAI – Fears, Opportunities & Possible Solutions
Sasha Nikolic, 5 March 2025
In his post, Sasha Nikolic suggests that we can’t ignore GenAI. We need to learn to live with it, which involves teaching students to use it ethically and productively.
Read more: https://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-connect/genai-fears-opportunities-possible-...
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HERDSA Executive Nominations 2025
Nominations close at 5.00 pm AEDT on 7th March 2025
This is a call for nominations for HERDSA Executive positions for the period July 2025 to July 2027.
The current HERDSA Executive will complete a two-year term at the end of June 2025 and all positions (except the President) are therefore declared vacant. In calling for nominations, the Society is looking to achieve leadership in Higher Education in Australasia and certain balances of representation on the Executive, as well as an enthusiastic preparedness to contribute.
Being on the HERDSA Executive requires a commitment of time. In addition, it requires a basic understanding of organisational governance. The role of the executive is to determine HERDSA’s strategic directions and to administer member funds for member benefit.
The closing date for nominations is 5:00pm AEST Friday 7th March 2025. Nine Executive positions are available and should there be more than 9 nominations received there will be an election conducted online.
Further information including position descriptions are online.
Further information: https://herdsa.org.au/executive-nomination-information
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Call for nominations for HERDSA Life Memberships
10th March 2025
HERDSA life Members are individuals who have made a substantial, prolonged contribution to HERDSA through their service to the Society and/or have made a distinguished contribution to higher education. We are pleased to count many significant contributors in our list of life members (http://herdsa.org.au/content/life-members).
The HERSDA Executive is now calling for nominations for new life members. The Executive will review nominations and elect up to two new life members who will be recognised at the 2025 conference.
To nominate an outstanding individual for HERDSA Life Membership, please forward a short statement detailing the following:
• Name and Email of Nominee
• Name and Email of Proposer
• Statement of outstanding Contribution to HERDSA and/or higher education (approx. 500 words)
Please forward to office@herdsa.org.au by Monday 10th March 2025
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Are you thinking of a SoTL project or getting bang for buck from your SoTL work? Drop in and join me for a coffee and to chat
Every Tuesday fortnight 12-12:45 pm AEST (QLD time)- Next Drop In's 11/3/25; 25/3/25; 8/4/25; 29/4/25
Are you interested in SoTL? Not sure where to start? Do you have an idea but need guidance on progressing it? Then join me for a coffee and to chat SoTL.
Use this time to explore a new idea or to develop a potential SoTL project; discuss a hurdle that’s blocking the progress of your SoTL project, chat about how to disseminate key insights from your SoTL study through a publication, blog, or conference presentation, or maybe explore a different methodological approach for exploring a SoTL phenomenon. Assoc Prof. Alice Brown (#HERDSA Executive and Lead for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning - SoTL modules and New Scholars) is organising fortnightly drop-in sessions to help navigate the world of SoTL. Whether you're new to SoTL or looking for ways to publish your research, these sessions are for you. Grab your coffee and drop in for some valuable insights and discussions. See you there!
Zoom Link for Coffee Chat - https://bit.ly/3A0iaw5
Further information: Contact Alice Brown (Alice.Brown@unisq.edu.au)
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TATAL Webinar 2025
Wednesday 12th March 2025 12-1pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
Welcome to TATAL Webinar 2025!
Would you like to learn about what the HERDSA Teaching about Teaching and Learning (TATAL) is about? Are you interested in joining the supportive and nurturing TATAL community? Would you like to see what TATALes are up to? Join us for an exciting online event where you meet HERDSA executives and fellow TATALers, and have a taste of TATAL activities.
Date: Wednesday 12th March 2025
Time: 12-1pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time).
Location: Online
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:https://jcu.zoom.us/j/83992839577?pwd=xqrjkQYSOuzdhNh7Ejy0Tr3rsF0xbB.1
Password: 639849
Or iPhone one-tap (AU Toll): +61861193900,,83992839577# or +61871501149,,83992839577#
Join the Zoom link above on the day, or register via the link below to save a calendar reminder.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tatal-webinar-2025-tickets-1117076268189?...
For more info please email Mei via mei.li1@jcu.edu.au
Looking forward to seeing many of you there!
Further information: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tatal-webinar-2025-tickets-1117076268189?...
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HERDSA GRANTS 2025 now open
Closing 14th March 2025
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 2025 round, up to six grants of AUD$5000 each, plus gst are available. Priority for one grant will be given to applicants identifying as Indigenous/First Nations (e.g., Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pacific Nations).
Applications close on 14th March 2025. Successful applicants will be informed at the end of May 2025. Grant applicants have one year to complete their projects. Grant progress reports are due end of January 2026 and final reports at the end of June 2026.
For detailed information see the guidelines document on the HERDSA website https://herdsa.org.au/herdsa-grants-scheme
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HERDSA Assessment Quality SIG - Meaningful Assessments in Higher Education
Friday 21sr March 2025, 1-2pm, Online
Higher education has had to go through significant transformations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and then followed very soon by the release of various A.I. tools. While these transformations have been challenging, in many ways it enabled significant advances in the way we think about education and the role of higher education more generally.
Assessments, as a cornerstone of education, probably continues to undergo the most significant transformations. The ‘same old’ way of assessing and ideas around ‘well that’s the way we’ve always done it’ are no longer relevant, and important questions about the role of assessments are emerging and driving important assessment reforms.'
Join the conversation as we explore the following questions:
What is the role of assessments in higher education?
What’s the impact of assessments on student learning, experience and engagement?
How does assessment prepare students for the world of work?
The role of feedback in assessment and learning
Plus your questions ... what would you like to ask the panel?
Further information: https://events.humanitix.com/meaningful-assessments-in-higher-education?...
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2025 CAULLT Grant Information webinar
14 March 2025, 12 noon - 1 pm
Are you working on your 2025 CAULLT grant application? Do you have any questions or need guidance?
We invite you to join members of the CAULLT Executive Committee for a special drop-in session on 14 March. This is a fantastic opportunity to get answers to your questions, receive expert advice, and connect with fellow applicants.
We look forward to seeing you there!
To register for this webinar, please click here https://tinyurl.com/3679c6jb
Further information: secretariat@caullt.edu.au
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CRADLE Seminar Series - Programmatic Assessment: Insights from Theory and Practice
Thursday 20 March 2025, 10am
CRADLE is pleased to welcome Dr Liesbeth Baartmnn, Professor at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Netherlands, as a visiting academic with Deakin University. She will discuss the experiences of research in programmatic assessment in the Netherlands, and unpack outcomes in vocational education and practice.
Programmatic Assessment is seen as a promising approach to align assessment with Higher Education goals such as inclusiveness, employability and assessment for learning. Its value has been evidenced in the Netherlands, in practice-based research carried out in a professional learning community consisting of about 25 higher education programmes. In this presentation, Liesbeth shares the theoretical principles of programmatic assessment and how these principles have been worked out in practice in design choices made by programmes in different domains. Also, lessons learned regarding student learning and decision-making will be discussed.
Join us for this compelling and this topical presentation at Downtown or online.
Further information: https://CRADLE_Seminar_Series_20_March_2025.eventbrite.com.au
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It's not too late - Seeking experienced online teachers to support a HERDSA project on engagement strategies valued by students
To all experienced online teachers and engagement experts in Higher Education, we are currently seeking your assistance in a research project (HERDSA grant 2024) to investigate students' perceptions of their most valued course (subject) specific online engagement strategies. These are strategies that teachers include as part of their online learning environment to support student learning (such as discussion forums; social forums and introductions; Padlets, eBooks, online tutorials, team activities, badges, personal communications, weekly announcements and nudges, collaborative/peer activities and opportunities to learn with others, short recordings and digital media and videos, stop and think activities, online whiteboard, guest speakers, providing explicit expectations about learning and ways of working, …..and many more).
If you are a strong online teacher or know of an uber teacher who strongly engages students online, then please contact us. The research team are eager to hear from your students about their experiences of online engagement in your course. We are interested in learning more about the strategies your students found useful in helping them feel part of the subject.
Further information: Please email Alice Brown - for further information - Alice.Brown@unisq.edu.au
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New online first articles in Higher Education Research and Development
A preliminary study on the reality of autonomy in Georgian universities, Paul Gibbs, Irma Grdzelidze & Tamar Sanikidze, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2456846
Supervising sensitive Masters dissertation research: challenges and mitigation strategies, Sara Young, Denise Buchanan & Agnes Girling, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2462022
The house of cards: equity-group students’ experiences of structural inequity in higher education, Rola Ajjawi, Nicole Crawford, Margaret Bearman, Matt Brett, Mollie Dollinger & Joanna Tai, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2456819
Measuring institutions’ country brand authenticity in transnational higher education, Stephen Wilkins, Jeroen Huisman, Mohammad Zahidul Islam Khan & Mohammad Elmoshnib, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2462020
Assessment of class participation in online and offline learning environments: a qualitative investigation of teachers’ best practices and challenges, Patricia D. Simon, Juming Jiang & Luke K. Fryer, https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2025.2462024
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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.