Australia Association for Research in Education
higher education
We struggled to make university more equal. Has that battle for equality worked now?
Australian education policy has really focussed on getting ‘equity groups’ into university and then onto completion with initiatives designed to improve access and participation. That worked. Recent data indicate that there has been growth in the university enrolment of these equity groups in the past ten years. Published studies have also found evidence for comparable …
Teaching-focused academics: five ways to beat the struggle for identity
An academic career centered on teaching should not be associated with a dead-end, or second-rate professional life. It …
At least six ways COVID has crushed higher education (now university managers make it worse)
Even less work-life balance, anxiety around online skills, fears the pandemic will be used to crush academic autonomy …
There are direct actions we can take now to make university access fair
While in recent decades there has been a focus on improving equitable access to higher education, inequalities cannot be overcome by simply exhorting more young people to go to university. Policies must also address the disparities between students that affect their capacity to ‘choose’ higher education. Australia has seen substantial growth in university enrolments since …
Online learning will never be a substitute for face-to-face
In 2020 higher education student satisfaction with their ‘entire educational experience’ hit its lowest point since Australia’s national survey of current students began in 2011. But the detailed survey results, which cover many aspects of student life, paint a mixed picture. Despite an unexpected shift to online learning due to COVID-19 restrictions, satisfaction with many …
I found my PhD journey extremely stressful and mentally exhausting
The secret lives of doctoral students and how academics can help Every year, thousands of students enrol into doctoral programs across Australia and around the world. New PhD students enter an environment characterised by the persistent pursuit for knowledge – there is always something more to learn. They also hear advice about academia from all …
IS THE LECTURE DEAD?
Universities all over Australia are welcoming back students – but what will the learning experience look like? The Australian National University’s vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt told staff last week:: “We need our teachers to be more than just people who stand at the front of the lecture hall or before a video camera. We need them …
Six factors that impact student mental health
For one in three university students in our study, their experiences are negative. This appears to contribute to a spiral of stress, disengagement and mental health difficulties. …
New evidence: Stark inequity of online access for rural and remote students
It’s long been known that those in regional and remote areas of Australia do not have access to …
I was excited to be interviewed for a permanent lecturing job and then this happened
As a doctoral candidate coming to the end of my journey, the ever present need to find a …