The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia is a scholarly society for people committed to the advancement of higher and tertiary education. It promotes the development of higher education policy, practice and the study of teaching and learning. HERDSA encourages and disseminates research on teaching and learning and higher education development. It also works to build strong academic communities. The current HERDSA Constitution was adopted in 2000.
HERDSA works to
- advance educational policy and practice in the higher education and tertiary sector
- facilitate and promote the enhancement of teaching and learning
- encourage and disseminate research on higher education and tertiary teaching, learning, development, research, leadership and policy matters
- recognise and reward outstanding contributions to higher and tertiary education
- encourage collaboration and the development of professional communities in higher and tertiary education and
- assist its members in their ongoing professional development.
HERDSA membership
HERDSA membership is available to anybody interested in the promotion and enhancement of teaching, learning and academic practice in tertiary and higher education. It encourages interaction with higher education leaders, policy makers, teachers, researchers, managers, learning support staff, academic developers educational researchers and students through:
- a refereed journal published four times a year
- a newsletter with substantial articles published three times a year
- HERDSA Guides which provide useful ideas and information on many aspects of teaching and learning
- an annual conference and conference proceedings
- networking activities, including mini-conferences, seminars and branch meetings
- a weekly email digest that focuses on current happenings in higher education
- other seminars and events
Details about membership fees and an application form to join HERDSA are available from the Join HERDSA page.
HERDSA Journal
HERDSA’s journal, Higher Education Research and Development (HERD), is an international refereed journal of high standing. It contains articles on the theory and practice of higher education, interdisciplinary reviews and review essays, research reports and book reviews, short critical notes and reflective pieces.
HERDSA News
HERDSA News is published three times a year. Longer articles address topical issues in higher education, balanced by shorter, informal articles and reviews, information about HERDSA activities, reports on research in progress, and information on conferences.
HERDSA Guides
HERDSA Guides provide useful ideas and information on many aspects of teaching and learning. Written by experts in specific fields, they are short, inexpensive and easy to read.
HERDSA Annual Conference
Annual international HERDSA conferences provide opportunities to meet colleagues with similar interests, exchange ideas about learning and teaching, and learning about current developments from experienced researchers and practitioners. In 2009, the HERDSA conference is to be held in Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. Visit the Conference webpage for further information.
All HERDSA conference proceedings are published in the series Research and Development in Higher Education. Papers from past HERDSA conferences can be accessed from the Past Conferences page.
HERDSA Conference Prizes
Three awards are presented annually
- HERDSA Conference Awards for postgraduate students
- HERDSA Prize for the best paper presented at the annual conference by a new researcher(s).
- Edith Cowan University Authentic Learning Award
HERDSA past conferences
- 2008 Rotorua New Zealand
- 2007 Adelaide South Australia
- 2006 Perth Western Australia
- 2005 Sydney New South Wales Australia
- 2004 Miri, Sarawak Malaysia
- 2003 Christchurch, New Zealand
- 2002 Perth Western Australia
HERDSA Regional Networks
Regional Networks are currently active in the ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. Please see the Regional Networks page for further details.
HERDSA Email List
HERDSA has a moderated email list produced weekly which keeps members informed about activities of HERDSA and decisions of the its Executive committee. The list also distributes current information about higher education and news of job vacancies. To have information posted to the HERDSA Digest contact Roger Landbeck.
