Definition of Academic Development

WORKING DEFINITION:

Throughout the Advancing Academic Development projects a working definition was employed:

Academic Development focuses on good practice and enhancing practice for all the dimensions of teaching, learning and scholarship. Academic development aims to develop teaching, curriculum, and leadership of teaching to in turn support high-quality student learning. Higher education staff who support academic development may be referred to as academic, educational, or professional developers. [Mårtensson, K., 2014]

RESEARCH:

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During Project 2, research was undertaken to produce the first  evidence-based definition of academic development. This involved

1. A survey of academic developers in Australasia;

2. Interviews with exemplary academic development practitioners; and

3. A participatory visual methods workshop with academic developers.

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The research focused on ascertaining the purpose (why); strategies and approaches (how); inclusions (what) and implications (so what) of academic development.

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The results have been written up and submitted to a journal for publication (currently under review). 

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