Professor Deborah West

Pro Vice Chancellor (Learning ~ Teaching Innovation)

Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching

Research expertise

My key research areas relate to learning and teaching innovation including learning analytics focussing on application, implementation and take-up. Inherently connected to this is the relationship between learning analytics and educational theory and pedagogy. Other areas of work include micro-credentialing and use of artificial intelligence to improve the student experience.

Research expertise

+61 8 82015887

deborah.west@flinders.edu.au

Engineering Building (453)

GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

I joined Flinders University in August 2017 as Pro Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching Innovation).

Prior to this I worked in a variety of roles in my disciplinary areas of sociology and social work including head of discipline, head of school at several Australian Universities. In more recent years I took on the role of Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) and subsequently Director of Learning and Teaching Charles Darwin University. My focus throughout the years has been on learning and teaching innovation and improvement and in particular the use of educational technology in higher education.

I have published extensively in the fields of social work, learning and teaching leadership, the use of eductional technology and learning analytics. I have led both Australian Research Council grants and Australian Government funded learning and teaching research projects (through the former ALTC and OLT). Such projects have included national and international research projects on learning analytics.

Qualifications

BA (hons) University of Toronto

MSW - Flinders University

PhD - Flinders University

Honours, awards and grants

2015 ASCILITE Conference, Best Full Conference Paper Award, Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education

2011 Mary Moylan NT Social Worker of the Year, Australian Association of Social Workers (NT)

2009 Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for leadership in curriculum development, Australian Learning and Teaching Council Awards for University Teaching

2009 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Teaching and Learning, Charles Darwin University

2008 Dean’s Research Award for outstanding research contribution to the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health, Science & Engineering, Charles Darwin University

2001 South Australian Premier’s Award for Postgraduate Research into Lifelong Learning through the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Development in support of PhD.

Key responsibilities

My current responsibilities include leadership of the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching which includes university wide support for educational quality, online learning and teaching, work integrated learning. I also oversee the Student Transition Office, Student Learning Centre and Careers and Employabilty teams.

Research expertise

Learning and teaching

Online learning

Other education

Social work

Technology

Research interests

Learning and teaching innovation; learning analytics; use of technology in education and connections to educational theory and pedagogy.

Higher degree by research supervision

Current

Associate supervisor: International Development (1)

Completion