Welcome

Romy Lawson HERDSA 2023 Convenor

On behalf of the conference planning committee, we invite you to join us for the 40th annual conference of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) to be held 28 June 2023 (with pre-conference workshops on 27 June) at the ICC (International Convention Centre), Darling Harbour, Sydney.

The theme for the conference is Curriculum Transformation. Effective curriculum transformation is seen to optimise the curriculum as a framework for student learning and experience rather than as simply an organising framework for disciplinary knowledge. It puts quality at the centre of this process and ensures support for staff in curriculum development and innovative teaching practice.

The planning committee has endeavoured to capture the different drivers and challenges for curriculum transformation under four sub-themes. The points under each sub-theme provide guidance of possible research topics for you to address but we encourage you to interpret the theme as it best suits your context.

There are many stakeholder perspectives from which to approach Curriculum Transformation. We welcome contributions that reflect the diversity of participants in higher education including private and non-university higher education providers, the vocational education and training sector, teachers and researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students, administrators and policy makers, government, community and industry partners, and our culturally diverse communities. We also welcome international delegates who can provide insights into curriculum transformation from other contexts and cultures.

New to the HERDSA 2023 Conference is the introduction of three ongoing streams throughout the conference program led by international experts. Discussing the challenges that we face in curriculum transformation and the potential future solutions, these streams will include:

• Whole of institutional transformation;
• Embedding employability into curriculum transformation to create career ready graduates;
• Harnessing the student voice by fostering students as change agents.

The conference will be held at the new premier integrated convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct at Darling Harbour, in Sydney’s CBD. Connected to and through the city by a bustling boulevard, centred around the expanded green space of Tumbalong Park and glittering harbour at Cockle Bay. From first light to starry nights, there’s always something going on at Darling Harbour making it a place to enjoy day and night. The conference venue is a short walk from local attractions such as Chinatown, the new Frank Gehry building (UTS Business School) and the Chinese Gardens. It's also just one minute walk to Sydney's light rail network, ferries and bus connections taking you to the icon sights of the city.

We hope you can join us for HERDSA 2023, to network with colleagues, forge new collaborations and share and gain new insights into higher education as well as to enjoy the delights of Darling Harbour and the many attractions that Sydney and its surrounds have to offer.

HERDSA acknowledges the Eora people as the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this conference will be held and pays respect to elders past, present, and future.