Understanding academic development: a case study at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

Following the mergers and amalgamations of colleges within universities in Australia in the early 1990s, many academics in Australia needed to make a transition from a mainly teaching-only role to a teaching and research role. These changing work roles at universities have put considerable pressure on human resource development policies and professional development strategies. However, the majority of Australian academics across all universities have successfully adapted to achieving this new career trajectory. This research uses a qualitative methodology and action research to examine the key factors that allowed one university to succeed in changing the behaviour and attitudes of its staff through university-initiated professional development programs. In-depth interviews with the executive administrators and successful academics at this university have been analysed and compared with the university's human resources policies. Keywords professional development, academic development
INTRODUCTION This research focuses on issues with the design and implementation of academic development at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in Australia. Qualitative research methods have been utilised to [...]