Bond University has been awarded two national Category One research grants to explore innovative methods of improving student outcomes and increasing the employability of Australia’s university graduates.
Funded by the Federal Government’s Office for Learning and Teaching, the projects will involve a team of academics from various educational institutions led by Bond’s Director of Learning and Teaching, Associate Professor Shelley Kinash.
“This is the first time these Strategic Commission Projects have been classified as Category One,” said Dr Kinash, who has been recognised internationally for a range of teaching innovations introduced at Bond.
“It is a major milestone for Bond to be awarded these grants and, I believe, a tribute to our excellent track record in achieving employment outcomes for our own students.”
The major research project, which will be co-led by Associate Professor Linda Crane, will look at improving graduate employability from the generalist disciplines of humanities, visual/performing arts, life sciences and computer science.
Dr Kinash’s team includes academics and researchers from the Australian Council for Private Education and Training, James Cook University and the University of Southern Queensland who will look at existing best practice strategies and emerging innovations.
“A key feature of this project is the collaboration between employers and private institutions and how those two influencers can work together to develop systems that ensure higher education providers are imparting the knowledge, skills and attributes employers need and expect in their employees,” said Dr Kinash.
The second project focusses on the widespread use of online student evaluation systems, looking at what existing systems work best and how they can be used to improve students’ course engagement and learning success.
The outcomes of both research projects will be shared with Australia’s tertiary education providers through keynote presentations at the Australian Council for Private Education and Training Conference later this year and at high education sector symposia.
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