Published 24 July 2023
A large contingent from the UNSW Education Focussed (EF) academic community attended this year’s annual Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Conference, held in Brisbane QLD from 4 to 7 July.
A record seventeen UNSW staff, including EF academics from various disciplines and members of the EF & Academic Development Team in the Portfolio of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience, presented their research findings, led workshops and roundtable discussions, and participated in sessions which covered a wide array of teaching and learning topics, including assessment strategies, technology integration, inclusive education, professional development programs, and pedagogical innovations.
Supported by the UNSW Education Focussed Development program, Portfolio of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education & Student Experience, through the EF Grants initiative, EF Academics reflected on their experience of presenting and attending, including their key takeaways from the conference, and what they plan to implement in their own practice in the future.
“The conference exceeded my expectations as this was my first HERDSA, my first Education conference, and my first as an EF. The collegial nature of the conference, the willingness to share practice, and the ease of making meaningful connections with delegates from other universities both national and internationally was amazing. I was also surprised by my connection with a large amount of the sessions I have taught at UNSW for over 10 years in specific areas but the commonality of practice I found in areas like Work Integrated Learning (WIL), student wellbeing, and also my discipline expertise was surprising.”
- Dr Chris Maloney, EF Senior Lecturer, School of Health Sciences
“HERDSA brought together professionals, researchers, and experts from various institutions and disciplines. It offered me a valuable opportunity to expand my professional network, connect with like-minded educators, and build relationships that can lead to collaborations and future research opportunities. Attending a pre-workshop, paper presentations, round table discussions, poster sessions, and keynote speeches also allowed me to gain insights into the latest research, trends, and best practices in higher education. The energy, enthusiasm, and passion of fellow attendees reignited my motivation, inspired new ideas, and invigorated my commitment to higher education research. I would like to thank the EF Development Team who provided a great support to an EF academic who attended the HERDSA for the first time!”
- SJ Yang, Lecturer, School of Management and Governance
Dr Pranit Anand, EF Senior Lecturer from the UNSW Business School, received one of the 2023 HERDSA Grants for his project entitled “Students’ contextualised storytelling within contemporary assessment practices in higher education.”
The EF Development Program continues to celebrate, recognise, and champion UNSW’s outstanding educators and support their continuous professional development to become reflective educators who are committed to bridging the gap between research and practice, underscoring UNSW’s commitment to excellence in education and the student experience.
"Each HERDSA conference marks an inspiring journey of growth and collaboration for our educators. This year's event included the largest UNSW EF delegation—a testament to the significance we place on developing the capacity of our teaching academics. By providing them with scaffolded support, funding, and resources, we enable them to not only build their SoTL capability, but also to create exceptional learning experiences for their students.”
- Karin Watson, Director, Education at PVCESE
All UNSW presenters’ abstracts are published on the 2023 HERDSA Conference website.
Dedicated to advancing teaching and learning in higher education, HERDSA has long served as an avenue for educators to contribute to the broader discourse on educational research and development, engage in fruitful discussions, and forge meaningful partnerships. Each year, its annual conference brings together academics, researchers, policymakers, and professionals from across Australasia and beyond.
