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This chapter examines the strengths and limitations of the idea of reconciliation and the concept of Reconciliation for guiding Australian Indigenous higher education into the 21st century. Drawing on research and discussions over the past 20 years and, in particular, the findings of a recent study by Goerke, we report on the views of prominent Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian political and educational leaders about universities in Australia and their engagement with the aspirations of the Indigenous peoples of Australia. We explore a particular concept known internationally as ‘Reconciliation’ and its policy lever that has been operationalised in some Australia universities to guide this work – the ‘Reconciliation Action Plans’ (RAPs).

This is a different way of us sharing our thoughts in the way we formulate and "write-up" our strategies regarding COVID-19, incorporating an Indigenous way of sharing. A group of academic staff in the Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS), Curtin University, Perth, decided to share their reflections on the COVID-19 lockdown and the ensuing challenges inherent in being in teaching and learning in an Indigenous space through COVID-19 times. The manner of our knowledge sharing is simplified because each writer/speaker takes up the message stick and has their conversation (yarn) about their experiences: this includes an introduction within the text of who the speaker is, but at times does digress, as "yarning" may. Then the Message Stick goes to the next speaker to continue the conversation till we get to the finish of our story. This is our written version of a "yarning circle", which is a way of sharing narratives that is very popular in this corner of South Western Australia.

This new edition includes more information than ever on active listening and dealing with conflict, while taking into account the changing nature of university studies as more and more students study and take courses online., The Communications Toolkit contains practical advice, tips and strategies to enable you to develop the communication skills needed to be a successful student. The text helps you make a successful transition to tertiary studies, develop effective research skills for your discipline, approach academic writing with confidence, refine your writing skills, and enhance your face-to-face communication experience. This new edition includes more information than ever on active listening and dealing with conflict, while taking into account the changing nature of university studies as more and more students study and take courses online. New examples of online students’ communication work and new coverage of the communication challenges students face when going to university via an online channel deals with this diversity. The direct, inclusive, motivational and student-friendly text addresses both individual students and those working in seminar or workshop groups, and provides activities for both types of student throughout the book. The new CourseMate Express website offers you resources for learning and revision, making this the strongest communications textbook in the market today.

In transnational education the place – in both an organisational and a geographic sense – in which educational decisions are made impacts on the academics involved and on student learning. The subject of this paper is learning and accreditation that takes place outside a home university through offshore branch campuses. A case study of two Australian Universities with offshore campuses in Sarawak, Malaysia was undertaken. Policies and procedures were reviewed and an empirical study of the experiences of academics involved was conducted. The study focused on who makes decisions about curriculum content, learning and teaching activities, design and provision of educational resources, and the assessment of student work. Consequences of the organisational relationships for academics involved and for student learning are examined in this paper. On the basis of the study a high degree of local control is recommended, at least for units of study that have operated transnationally several times.

The establishment of higher educational hubs in Malaysia and Singapore has spurred the growth of transnational education (TNE) offerings in Asia, and attracted several Australian higher education providers to set up branch campuses in these countries. In Malaysia, TNE is seen as contributing to economic targets by helping to decrease the outflow of students and currency, and by attracting international students to Malaysian shores (British Council 2012). The provision of higher education through TNE raises issues somewhat distinct from those arising with local provision of higher education. These include the balance of local and foreign educational decision making and its implications for academic staff and for the learning experiences of students. This paper is informed by ‘Learning without Borders: Leadership in transnational education and internationalization of curriculum’, an Australian Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) funded project undertaken at Curtin University and Swinburne University of Technology, involving Australian campuses and branch campuses. The project investigated staff experiences, expectations and preferences on TNE issues including career path opportunities, teaching and learning implications. The project focused particularly on the development of recognition and support for leadership roles in transnational education and on internationalization of curriculum. The paper highlights some of the TNE and internationalization measures that might enhance staff experiences and student learning.

Transnational education (TNE) involves collaborative efforts of programme and unit coordinators working with colleagues from offshore branch campuses or international partner institutions within cross-cultural contexts. Sustainable approaches to recognising and rewarding leaders in TNE are arguably key to achieving teaching excellence at partner and branch campuses. This conference session will explore perspectives of staff at both onshore and offshore campuses, as studied during a two-year collaborative project between the Australian and Malaysian campuses of Swinburne University of Technology and Curtin University. It will highlight the broad outcomes and recommendations from this Australian Learning and Teaching (ALTC, now Office for Learning & Teaching, OLT) funded project entitled “Learning Without Borders: Linking Development of transnational leadership roles to international and cross-cultural teaching excellence”.

Learning Without Borders was funded as an ALTC Leadership project. The project was conducted by Swinburne University of Technology and Curtin University in Australia and on their Sarawak campuses in Malaysia. The project focuses on leadership roles in the conduct of transnational education (TNE) and in the internationalisation of curriculum. For purposes of the project, TNE is defined as an arrangement for provision of higher education where students acquire an award in one country issued by a higher education institution based in another country.The project focused on developing recognition, reward and support of leaders in TNE and in internationalisation of curriculum. The project involved an investigation of staff experiences, expectations and preferences in TNE and in the internationalisation of curriculum. It included matters such as influences of involvement in TNE on career paths and on learning and teaching, views on good practice in TNE and internationalisation of curriculum. Through the project online professional development modules aimed at supporting leaders and academics engaged in TNE were produced. The modules have been designed so that they may be customised by other Australian universities. The project produced recommendations on recognition, reward and support of leadership in TNE and internationalisation of curriculum and guides in the form of a handbook and checklists.

Under ‘National Protocols’ established for higher education Australian universities are required to meet a consistent set of standards “regardless of whether its higher education students are located in Australia or offshore.” (MCEETYA, 2007, p.2). In this context we report in this paper approaches to curriculum and assessment decision-making encountered in an investigation of transnational education and internationalisation. The investigation is a component of the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) project ‘Learning without borders: Linking development of transnational leadership roles to international and cross-cultural teaching excellence’; a project conducted by Curtin University and Swinburne University of Technology in Australia and in Sarawak. Meeting the same criteria specified in the National Protocols onshore and offshore can be and is addressed in different ways, even within the same higher education institution. In this paper we distinguish four approaches to curriculum decision-making designed to ensure the same standards are met. These may be styled: (a) home campus curriculum control, (b) limited branch campus learning, teaching and assessment contextualisation, (c) substantial branch campus learning, teaching and assessment contribution constrained by a requirement to attain the same learning outcomes, and (d) branch campus curriculum design. The locus of control varies between these approaches with implications for both the student experience and the professional experience and responsibilities of staff.

This paper reports research into undergraduates’ adoption of handheld devices as supplementary learning tools. Students enrolled in Engineering and Business in Australia, Africa and Malaysia volunteered to participate in a study of their use of the HP iPAQ from mid-2005 to late-2006. The Business students were located in Perth (Australia) and in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and the Engineering students were located in Perth and Miri, Sarawak (Malaysia). Researchers observed and analysed the participants’ commencing levels of technology adoption, and then there subsequent adoption and perceptions of the usefulness of the iPAQ. Students did not recommend the iPAQ for learning because, using Roger’s reasons for adoption, it was trialable and observable but it failed to meet expectations. The Ethiopian students who, despite undeveloped ICT infrastructure, were most open to continue to experiment and persist with the device regardless of trying circumstances.

This paper reports research into undergraduates’ adoption of handheld devices as supplementary learning tools. Students enrolled in Engineering and Business in Australia, Africa and Malaysia volunteered to participate in a study of their use of the HP iPAQ from mid-2005 to late-2006. The Business students were located in Perth (Australia) and in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and the Engineering students were located in Perth and Miri, Sarawak (Malaysia). Researchers observed and analysed the participants’ commencing levels of technology adoption, and then there subsequent adoption and perceptions of the usefulness of the iPAQ. Students did not recommend the iPAQ for learning because, using Roger’s reasons for adoption, it was trialable and observable but it failed to meet expectations. The Ethiopian students who, despite undeveloped ICT infrastructure, were most open to continue to experiment and persist with the device regardless of trying circumstances.