Higher Education Research and Development

"International doctoral students from non-native English-speaking (NNES) backgrounds often encounter challenges in writing their publications and doctoral dissertations. Drawing upon the language socialization theory (LST) of Duff, this study investigates how novice scholars integrate into their academic communities as they develop their English academic writing (EAW) abilities. Eighteen doctoral students representing diverse first-language backgrounds participated in semi-structured interviews on their lived experiences. They felt inadequately prepared for EAW requirements upon entering their PhD programs. Over the years, they developed their research dissemination skills by reading the works of leading scholars in their respective fields (e.g., computational biology, sociology, philosophy, phonology, immunology), writing persistently, while acknowledging the poor quality of their drafts, and actively seeking feedback from academics and peers in their communities. These findings underscore the need to provide targeted support for novice academic writers to foster their growth as proficient and confident authors to contribute to the global academic discourse. Duff's LST provides a comprehensive lens for exploring the journey through which NNES novice writers develop their EAW abilities and become valuable members of their communities."

New publication! Nguyen (Ruby), N. N., & Palmer, E. (2024). Assessing the effectiveness of feature film and television series in university teaching through evaluation quadrangulation and action learning. Higher Education Research & Development, 1–17. https://lnkd.in/g5E9VF5r Hope this won't be our last collab, Edward Palmer ✍ ✍ ✍ Acknowledging substantial support and guidance from dearest Cally Guerin and Dr Walter Barbieri, along with Lyndall Edson's design savviness! 🤩 Also, much thanks to Higher Education Research and Development reviewers, editors and copyediting/publishing teams for their expertise.

Career advancement policies ‘used for wage theft’. Australian academics required to ‘act up’ for years before being paid for it, analysis finds #WageTheft https://lnkd.in/gJRAzk2v

Delighted (and relieved!) that our paper on language assessment literacy based on an IELTS project has been accepted in Higher Education Research & Development. It was a bumpy road seeking an appropriate journal but glad it’s found a great home! First time publishing in a higher education journal for me!

"This paper examines liminality, agency, and community in two different models of academic development (AD), one in New Zealand and the other in Japan. It builds on previous research that looked at the impact of workplace factors on identity and completes a model of academic developers’ formation and growth of professional identity. This is important because various dimensions of development work and their complex relationships remain unclear in a field that is relatively new, has different ways of formation and operation, and is in need of theorisation. In addition, it is well known that AD units/departments are subject to constant re-organisation, often when an institution's finances are at stake, which suggests there is some uncertainty about the way this work should be or can be organised in different circumstances. The data we draw on for this work come from interviews in which 19 developers were asked about their experiences of their work. Liminality, agency and community were important in both research-led AD communities and for more service-orientated developers working in relative isolation. However, the affective dimensions of these themes were not always experienced in the same way. We propose a model as a starting point for all university stakeholders to help understand the factors that need to be accounted for when addressing AD identity and work, and to guide decision making in the profession."

Integration of growth mindset concepts into academic writing courses for novice researchers’ academic writing skills and competence Chin-Wen Chien → https://lnkd.in/gXdcF_b7 #AcademicWriting #GrowthMindset #AcWri 🇹🇼

Really proud of our latest publication in HERDSA Higher Education Research Society of Australasia's HERD journal on student outcomes under the Southern Cross Model (It’s open access, too, so take a look!). Led by Professor Thomas Roche, with colleagues Dr Liz Goode and John McKenzie, our analysis shows significant improvements for students in defined so-called ‘equity’ groups (which we like to redefine as underrecognised students, in moving away from a deficit approach). "Statistically significant improvements in academic success were observed for students identified as low socio-economic status, first-in-family, regional/remote, Indigenous, and registered with a disability, with improvements particularly pronounced for the latter two student groups. This case study indicates that immersive block models providing the conditions for more focused and active education can significantly enhance the academic achievement of underrecognised students”. Southern Cross University #southerncrossmodel #blockmodel

"The ongoing war in Ukraine has profoundly impacted Ukraine's higher education system, particularly in the realm of PhD admissions. This essay explores the surge in PhD enrollments, driven partly by mobilization policies, and examines the complex challenges it presents, including the stigmatization of male students who are often labelled as ‘draft dodgers’. The essay analyzes policy changes, societal perceptions, and their implications for the future of Ukrainian higher education. It argues that while the recent reforms aim to maintain academic integrity, they may inadvertently create barriers that limit diversity and academic potential. The stigmatization of male PhD students threatens both their mental health and the vitality of academic discourse, creating a hidden crisis with long-term consequences for research and intellectual potential. By navigating this complex terrain with a balanced approach to policy-making, Ukraine can preserve the integrity of its education system while supporting its scholars for future recovery."

Integration of growth mindset concepts into academic writing courses for novice researchers’ academic writing skills and competence: Higher Education Research & Development: Vol 0, No 0 - Get Access https://lnkd.in/e_HqD2t7