Abstract:
The presentation will discuss the results of a research study to determine what characteristics outstanding university lecturers at an Australian University have in common. The literature found that individual personality traits (Bain 2004; Bentley-Davies 2010; Boonshaft 2010; Gladwell 2009; Yair 2008) and the link between expertise and excellence was a common theme (Bereiter and Scardamalia 1986; Chi, Glaser and Farr 1988) as well as the ability to reflect (Brookfield 1995; Cosh 1999; Cowan 2006; McAlphine and Westin 2000; Schön 1983). Grounded theory method and thematic analysis was employed as there were no extant theories of what characteristics made an outstanding university lecturer (Charmaz 2000; Charmaz 2002; Glaser 1998; Rubin & Rubin, 1995; Strauss and Corbin 1998). Seventy academic staff and graduate students at an Australian university were invited to participate in a survey questionnaire and voluntary interviews. Six lecturers who had been identified as outstanding were then interviewed. The five characteristics identified were expertise, holistic approach to learning, engaging the student, open door policy and ambitious altruists. These outstanding lecturers were unconventional in their work practices and were seen as “ambitious altruists” as they often placed their students’ learning over their own career paths.