Developing and Sustaining the Identities of Emerging and Established Educational Leaders
To register for this webinar, please click here.
What does ‘educational leadership’ mean in higher education? Do we see ourselves as educational leaders? How are educational leaders supported across different career stages? We need thriving leaders to guide a thriving learning and teaching community within the higher education sector (Simmons & Taylor, 2019), and we need a succession pathway for these leaders (Gansemer-Topf et al., 2022).
This webinar reflects on a study exploring what educational leadership looks like throughout an academic’s career, and how academic practice can better support emerging educational leaders in higher education. By analysing the identities of leaders at all career stages, we identify contextual factors that may contribute to the formation, development, and attrition of educational leaders in Australasian universities. The multi-institutional research project team explore what educational leadership looks like throughout one’s career and how we can better support educational leaders in higher education. We present the findings of our research project, drawing on survey responses (n=80) and semi-structured interviews (n=28) with staff in higher education institutions across Australia and New Zealand. The research participants are emerging and established educational leaders, in academic (faculty) and professional (staff) positions, whether insecure (adjunct) or secure (tenured). Across their diverse narratives, we see the impact of relational approaches, the different levels of leadership participants are engaged in, the lack of recognition (particularly for those in professional positions), and the ongoing support – in different forms – desired by participants. This project holds implications for how leaders are identified and supported within their institutions and professional networks.
Presenters:
Dr Conor West is an Associate Lecturer in the School of Education at University of Wollongong. With previous experience as a Lecturer in Academic Development and a primary teacher, Conor enjoys making educational psychology fun and practical for educators, and exploring education’s power and quirks in all manner of spaces, including primary, secondary and tertiary education. Her research interests include teacher wellbeing, educational leadership, initial teacher education, and work integrated learning.
Dr Annika Herb is the Education Development Lead in the Learning Design and teaching Innovation unit at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Her research focuses on academic development, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and educational leadership. Annika brings her previous experience as an award-winning academic and learning designer to her work in Education Development, and is passionate about supporting academics to enhance their teaching practice.
Dr Alison Jolleyis a Senior Lecturer in Academic Development and geoscience education specialist based at the University of Waikato. She thrives on collaborating with teaching staff on development that empowers them to experiment with and reflect on practice with the aim of fostering more enriching and inclusive student outcomes.
Associate Professor Kwong Nui Sim: As an award-winning associate professor, Kwong Nui is committed to enhance practices in the use of educational technology for students and teachers as well as within doctoral education and academic development capacity. Kwong Nui is a dynamic academic who has developed a significant academic profile in the last decade as an experienced scholar/researcher, pedagogically sound teacher, grants/awards recipient and well-rounded academic developer.
Dr Grant Kinghorn is an experienced Registered Nurse and dedicated academic whose professional journey is grounded in a passion for both nursing practice and education. With over a decade of clinical experience, including specialised roles in forensic mental health, and several years as a university lecturer at the University of Wollongong, Grant has developed a deep understanding of the pivotal role education plays in healthcare, and is passionate about leadership development.
Dr Corinne A. Green is a Lecturer in Academic Development with the Teaching Innovation Unit at the University of South Australia (UniSA) where she prompts university educators to be intentional in their approach to teaching and learning by articulating what they are doing and why. Corinne has relished opportunities to collaborate with local and international colleagues on projects in the fields of academic development, teacher education, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).