Welcome from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education

Dear Colleagues, 

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 23rd annual Teaching Matters Conference – Education that makes a difference. Each year, Teaching Matters provides a wonderful opportunity to come together with colleagues from across the University to share new ideas, to challenge ourselves and to celebrate our successes. 

Our theme for Teaching Matters 2024 focusses attention on the impact of education in the lives of students and their communities.  

The conference will open with a Keynote Address from Dr Timothy M Renick, the Executive Director, National Institute for Student Success at Georgia State University, USA. From 2008-2020, Dr Renick led the university’s student success efforts: overseeing among the fastest improving graduation rates in the nation and the elimination of all equity gaps based on students’ race, ethnicity, and income level. We look forward to drawing on his insights to support our own student success initiatives.  

Then, in Showcase, Lightning and Exemplar presentations, colleagues from across the University’s Colleges and Divisions will be sharing their initiatives, examples of what practices look like in different contexts, guidance, and inspiration. 

This year, Lightning presentations will be published on the online conference program and available to view prior to the conference. We encourage you to engage with presenters during the online lunch break and on the Lightning Padlet discussions. 

Following the day of fully online sessions on Wednesday 27 November, we also hope you will join us the following week at local, on-campus events. 

Thank you to all our presenters this year. We look forward to hearing about how you are engaging in education which makes a difference in the lives of your students and their communities.  

Kind regards,
Professor Mitch Parsell