An innovative university research network, which will focus on broadening and strengthening the study of higher education, has recently been launched at QUT.
Professor Christine Bruce, convenor for the Higher Education Research Network (HERN) and researcher in QUT's Science and Engineering Faculty, said the unique collaboration would boost the publication of higher education research and build systemic, cross disciplinary collaborative connections throughout the university and the sector.
"We are raising the profile of, and providing a focus for, higher education research at QUT. We're creating important networks so people can find out what other people are doing and create links," she said.
"Using a distributed approach rather than running the network from a central point we are building on established working relationships that cut across academics and professional staff, faculties and divisions. It also encompasses our critical mass of staff who have received Australian Awards for University Teaching, national OLT Grants and Fellowships and our scholarly communities."
Professor Bruce said the HERN executive included Office for Learning and Teaching National Fellows, academics and professional staff from key university-wide stakeholder groups, early career researchers and representatives from the Indigenous Research Network.
"Our leading higher education researchers usually have a dual focus - working within their disciplines and within their professions," Professor Bruce said.
"They might be, for example, academics in faculties or professional staff in the Library or eLearning Services. They are going beyond their day-to-day work and taking a professional and scholarly approach in researching how to make what they do work better."
Deputy Vice Chancellor of Learning and Teaching Professor Suzi Vaughan said turning the spotlight on QUT's practice would be felt through all levels of the university.
"Ultimately our focus is on quality student learning outcomes," Professor Vaughan said.
"HERN will play a key role in increasing our understanding of how students learn and this will enable us to design our courses, learning environments and experiences in more and more effective ways."
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Commercialisation Professor Arun Sharma said, "HERN sits at the intersection of our key foci on research and teaching, research into our own industry and professional practice as a University is fundamental to improving student learning."
As well as being an avenue for communication and support for researchers HERN will run a calendar of events including writing workshops for grant applications and provide opportunities for cross-discipline collaboration.
"Most research undertaken at institutions like QUT is directed toward practice outside the university. This is about looking towards the industry and practice of the university," Professor Bruce said.
"We're focussing on research and innovation in our own industry. If we don't research our business nobody will."
The network was recently launched at QUT by Professor Vaughan, Professor Sharma, Office of Learning and Teaching's Siobhan Lenihan and Professor Bruce at QUT's new Science and Engineering Centre.
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Media contact: Alita Pashley, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 or alita.pashley@qut.edu.au
