The Scientia Education Academy is delighted to welcome Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) Professor, Anne Gardner from the University of Technology Sydney and SEA fellow, Associate Professor Jayashri Ravishankar.
Join us for the upcoming Scientia Education Lecture that will investigate conceptual frameworks of educational research and an effective use of a university-industry partnership for workplace readiness and lifelong learning in Engineering.
Firstly, UTS Professor Anne Gardner will delve into the unique world of engineering education research. She will explore a selection of distinct frameworks that help with articulating a methodology and a theoretical/conceptual framework in educational research. Anne will also provide case studies where these frameworks have been effectively applied.
Secondly, SEA fellow and UNSW Associate Professor Jayashri Ravishankar will discuss strategies employed at UNSW Engineering to develop and administer a succinct short course in collaboration with industry counterparts. Jayashri will address the sustainability of implementing such a short course, examine the impacts on both the university and the industry, and highlight to fellow academics how such an approach can equip students with the skills needed to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of modern industry, regardless of the discipline.
Learn more about the individual presentations:
Research design for engineering education research
Research in the field of engineering education involves different practices compared to stereotypical technical research. One significant difference is the need to articulate a methodology and theoretical/conceptual framework. Frameworks provide useful lenses for this research. In this presentation, a selection of frameworks will be outlined along with examples of projects where they have been applied.
Fostering Lifelong Learning through University-Industry Partnerships
University-industry partnerships have the potential to enhance the educational experience for learners in terms of both workplace readiness and lifelong learning opportunities. However, the current focus on delivering the existing curriculum to fulfill program requirements often leaves academics with limited time to explore the creation of concise courses aimed at offering lifelong learning to students and facilitating workforce upskilling. This presentation delves into the strategies employed within UNSW Engineering to develop and administer a succinct course in collaboration with industry counterparts. The presentation addresses the sustainability of implementing such a short course and examines the impacts for both the university and the industry involved. The proposed model is intended to function as a comprehensive guide for academics interested in equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of modern industry, regardless of the discipline.
About the Speakers
Professor Anne Gardner
Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) UTS; Exec Committee member of IFEES
Anne Gardner’s primary field of research has been engineering education for the last 15 years. She is the immediate past President of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE) and has been awarded the AAEE Research Design Award twice. She also facilitates the AAEE annual Winter School which supports engineering academics to learn about engineering education research.
Associate Professor Jayashri Ravishankar
Associate Dean (Education) UNSW, Faculty of Engineering
Jayashri Ravishankar is a Scientia Education Fellow and an Education Focussed academic at UNSW, Sydney. Her teaching and research interests include power system studies, renewable energy integration and Engineering Education. She leads best practice advanced teaching in electrical engineering through imaginative initiatives and industry partnerships, including blended industry lectures, teamwork and flipped mode strategies. Esteem indicators include Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy awarded by Advance HE (UK), UNSW Teaching Excellence Awards and the Australian Awards for University Teaching Citation.