HERDSA Annual Conference, 2023
4-7 July 2023
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Southbank, Brisbane, Australia

Conference web site: https://conference.herdsa.org.au/2023/

The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) annual conference will take place from 4–7 July 2023 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The conference will be held in Brisbane’s vibrant Southbank precinct, giving conference delegates convenient access to cafes and restaurants, Brisbane’s celebrated Arbour walkway, famous Streets Beach, and many public transport options.

While Southbank is lovely, however, the conference itself will be the place to be. Once a year, people with a commitment to higher education, to supporting tertiary student success and to sharing advances in higher education policy and practice converge for the HERDSA conference. We come from across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore to share ideas and to connect. The HERDSA conference is focused on providing colleagues with the invaluable opportunity to connect: to each other, to new ideas, and to the HERDSA communities of practice.

HERDSA is inclusive: we encourage participation from the full higher education sector, including colleagues from Institutes of Higher Education, University Colleges, Universities, the VET sector, government, and community and industry bodies. Everyone with an interest in higher education is welcome: students, policy-makers, early career researchers, senior leaders, and ‘third space’ workers. The HERDSA conference is as diverse and dynamic as the tertiary sector itself.

HERDSA 2023 will be organised around broad conference themes:

• Governance and policy
• Teaching, learning and the student experience
• Pathways and partnerships
• Innovation and research
• Professional learning for changing academic practices
• Values, justice and integrity.

We invite you to use these themes to structure your scholarship, and to find the people and the presentations with whom you want to connect.

Conference Grants

HERDSA is able to offer a number of conference grants to support delegates to attend the conference.  The call for applications will be made around the time that submissions close.  The deadline for applications is 31 March 2023. Having a presentation accepted for the conference is one of the criteria for being awarded a grant.

HERDSA Student Conference Grant (Up to 3 grants of  $1000 each)

Deadline for applications: 31st March 2023

Up to three conference grants of  AUD$1,000 each are available to support an under-graduate or post-graduate student to attend and participate in the HERDSA conference. The conference grant can be used to support travel, accommodation or subsistence of the successful applicant.

Preference will be given to applicants who

• can demonstrate financial hardship (e.g. geographical location or other personal circumstances)
• are able to attend the full conference
• have an accepted conference presentation based on their research or project 
• are the sole author of the presentation (if joint, indicate percentage contribution) and will lead the presentation at the conference
• are willing to make a contribution to HERDSA Connect if asked
• have had limited, or no, opportunities to attend similar conferences
• have not previously received a HERDSA conference grant (Student, Taylor & Francis, Early Career).

To apply, complete the HERDSA Student Conference Grant Application Form and email to Office@herdsa.org.au by the due date.

Applicants must also submit a supporting letter from the applicant’s research supervisor, including a statement indicating that the applicant complies with the criteria.

HERDSA Early Career Conference Grant (Five grants up to $1000 each)

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2023

HERDSA aims to support early career staff (academic and professional) in teaching and learning. Participating in the annual HERDSA conference is an opportunity for early career staff to present their research or practice in teaching and learning in higher education, network with experienced scholars, and learn from colleagues.

Early career is defined as not more than five years cumulative experience in higher education.

Up to five conference grants of AUD$1,000 each are available to support early career staff (academic or professional) to attend and participate in the HERDSA conference. The conference grant can be used to support travel, accommodation or subsistence of the successful applicant.

Preference will be given to applicants who

• can demonstrate financial hardship (e.g. geographical location or other personal circumstances)
• will attend and participate in the full conference
• have an accepted conference presentation based on their research or practice
• are the sole author of the presentation (if joint, indicate percentage contribution) and will lead the presentation at the conference
• are willing to write a contribution to HERDSA Connect 
• have had limited or no opportunities to attend similar conferences
• have not previously received a HERDSA conference grant (Student, Taylor & Francis, Early Career).
• Priority for one grant will be given to applicants identifying as Indigenous/First Nations (eg Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori or Pacific Nations).

To apply, download the HERDSA Early Career Conference Grant Application Form and email to office@herdsa.org.au by the due date.

TAYLOR & FRANCIS CONFERENCE GRANT (FIVE GRANTS OF UP TO $500 EACH)

Deadline for applications:

Taylor & Francis, the publishers of HERDSA’s journal Higher Education Research & Development (HERD) is a sponsor of the annual HERSDA conference. As part of that sponsorship, HERDSA is able to offer five conference grants of up to AUD$500 each to support HERDSA members attend the annual HERDSA conference. The conference grant can be used to support travel, accommodation or subsistence of the successful applicant.

The Taylor & Francis conference grants are open to all current HERDSA members.

Preference will be given to applicants who

• are able to attend the full conference (applicants for single day registration will be considered)
• have been accepted to make a presentation at the HERDSA conference
• are willing to make a contribution to HERDSA Connect if asked
• have had limited or no opportunities to attend similar conferences
• are able to demonstrate financial hardship (e.g. student, geographical location, no institutional support or other personal circumstances)
• have not previously received a HERDSA conference grant (Student, Taylor & Francis, Early Career).

To apply, download the Taylor & Francis Conference Travel Grant Application Form and email to office@herdsa.org.au by the due date.

Assessment of Applications

Applications for conference grants will be assessed by a sub-committee of the HERDSA Executive. Applicants will be selected on the basis of demonstrated need and the quality of the application. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified as soon as possible so that all applicants can take advantage of the early bird registration rate.

HERDSA Prize for Best Presentation by a Student ($500)

(Judged by members of the HERDSA Professional Learning Portfolio during the conference)

The purpose of the prize is to encourage students to disseminate their work at national and international higher education conferences. Applicants must be presenting a showcase at the HERDSA conference in order to be eligible for this prize.

•  Presenters will be judged on their ability to effectively communicate as well as on the academic content of their presentation.
• The prize (AUD$500) will be awarded at the annual HERDSA Conference and is usually presented at the closing ceremony of the conference.

HERDSA Prize for Best Poster (up to 3 prizes totalling $1000)

All digital posters are eligible for this prize and eligible for one of up to three prizes to a total of AUD$1000. The purpose of these prizes is to promote and recognise excellence in the ability to visually communicate ideas, findings or outcomes related to tertiary education.

Posters will be assessed by conference delegates – on both the ability to visually communicate as well as on the academic content of the poster. The best poster prizes will be awarded to the posters that receive the highest number of votes.

Conference participants are likely to be able to vote using the conference mobile app which will work on any smartphone, tablet, or computer connected to the internet.