Keynote Addresses
Dr Hamish Coates
Dr Hamish Coates is the principal author of a recently released ACER report called 'Attracting, Engaging and Retaining: New Conversations about Learning'. This report provides the results of the 2007 Australasian Survey of Student Engagement, in which more than 9000 students from 25 Australian and New Zealand universities participated. According to Dr Coates, the idea of 'student engagement' took shape through research on 'student affairs', making this particular conference a very important forum in which to discuss these ideas. ACER has also recently released the first AUSSE Research Briefing affirming the point that integrated student-focused support plays a vital role in enhancing student outcomes. Dr Coates will be discussing further insights from subsequent analyses and reports which focus on supporting students' engagement in effective learning.
AUSSE Research Briefing (PDF, 516KB)
'Attracting, Engaging and Retaining: New Conversations about Learning'
Professor Richard James
Professor Richard James is the Director of the Centre for Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne and will be speaking about the recently released 'Participation and Equity' report. This report, commissioned by Universities Australia, is an important review of the participation in higher education of people from a low socio-economic background and Indigenous people. It examines the persistent under-representation of these groups in Australian Universities with a view to informing policies and strategies.
'Participation and Equity' report (PDF, 5MB)
Professor Sally Kift
Sally Kift is a Professor of Law at the Queensland University of Technology, Australia (QUT). Over 2006-2007, she was seconded to the QUT Chancellery as the institution's Director, First Year Experience Project. From 2001-2006, she served as Assistant Dean, Teaching & Learning in the QUT Faculty of Law. Her research interests include criminal law, legal education, first year experience, sessional staff development, and the teaching, learning and assessment of graduate attributes/ transferable skills.
Brian Smyth King
Brian Smyth King is the Director of Disability Programs, NSW Department of Education and Training. Brian has statewide responsibility for Special Education and will be talking about the development and implementation of the Standards for Education underpinning the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act.
