Presented by Distinguished Professor Sarah O’Shea
Date: Sunday 29 June 2025
Time: 1:30pm – 4:00pm
Venue: Pullman Cairns International Hotel
Cost: $290 (additional to conference registration)
Planning and executing a research project can be a complex and challenging endeavour, however the importance of ethically sound and empirically validated research cannot be underestimated in the field of ‘student success’. This masterclass is designed to provoke reflection and conversations about some of the research dilemmas that may be faced when contemplating a research project. Whether you are just vaguely considering ‘doing some research’ or if you have a definitive ‘passion project’ you wish to explore, this interactive session will provide you with insights and information to assist you during this research journey.
The masterclass will cover the following main themes:
– Developing an ‘elevator pitch’ and defining your project
– Moving from ‘practitioner’ to ‘researcher’ – some considerations
– Being an ethical researcher in the social sciences: risks and responsibilities
– Tips on grant writing: ‘Show me the money!’
The session will include a combination of small-group work, individual reflection, and questions / answer format. Sarah will also draw on her own experience of designing and executing large-scale research projects across the educational field, which include personal key learnings.
To prepare for the session and ensure the content is targeted to the participants, attendees are invited to submit questions to Professor O’Shea here.
Biography
Professor Sarah O’Shea is an award-winning educator and internationally recognised researcher, who applies sociological perspectives to the study of higher education equity. Currently, a Distinguished Professor and Dean at Charles Sturt University, she brings over 30 years of experience in tertiary education settings.
Sarah’s research builds upon Bourdieusian social theory, her institutional and nationally funded projects advance understanding of how under-represented student cohorts enact success within university, navigate transition into and through this environment, manage competing identities and negotiate aspirations for self and others. Sarah has published over 100 outputs that include: books, book chapters, journal articles and commissioned reports.
She has been awarded national and international competitive funding totalling $AUD4 million also managed over $AUD10 million in Federal Government funding. Along with being recognised as a STARS Fellow, Sarah is also an Australian Learning and Teaching Fellow (ALTF), a Principal Fellow, Higher Education Academy (PFHEA), and a Churchill Fellow (CF).