Around 90 CQUniversity academics have signed up as 'teaching scholars' in recognition of the focus of their careers on teaching and learning, and to enable an increased focus on scholarship of learning and teaching instead of discipline-based research.

Teaching scholars wish to focus more on the quality of student learning, providing them with the opportunity to advance the field of learning and teaching and the recognition of their achievements through a career path that does not require a demonstrated focus on research and publication in research discipline journals.

LINK HERE for a copy of The Australian's ‘teaching scholar' article quoting Kadie Cheney and our VC Scott Bowman

Nursing lecturer Kadie Cheney features on the front page of The Australian newspaper's Higher Education liftout, talking about her decision to become a teaching scholar

Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman says the teaching scholar initiative is designed to "acknowledge what people are good at".

"We are keen to enable different career paths for academic staff who demonstrate a propensity for active, quality research and, equally, colleagues who have Teaching & Learning acuity," he says.

"What I want to promote at CQUniversity is a real parallel structure of advancement and recognition for research-active and non-research-active academics.

"Doing so will not only acknowledge and honour CQUniversity's heritage, primarily, as a Teaching & Learning organisation, but also propel our plans for a ‘great' university, known for its world-class research in select areas of expertise."

Academics who agree to re-focus their careers will have more chance to be innovative and to reflect on the scholarship of teaching and learning.

They'll be able to help reduce student attrition, improve the student experience, boost the international relevance of programs and mentor other staff about exemplary teaching practice.

Teaching scholars can opt to return to being a teaching and research academic by negotiating with their Dean and demonstrating the development of a research track record commensurate with this type of position. The University will recognise through the promotion pathway high achievement and outcomes, providing greater opportunity for career progression than may have previously been available to these staff under their teaching and research appointments.

The teaching scholars will be expected to publish scholarly writings and disseminate their contributions to the development, pedagogy and innovation of program development, student learning, curricula and many other learning and teaching areas.