Higher Education Development  (HED) recognises that academics operate in a complex world that is driven by two competing, yet complementary forces: Research and Teaching.  Both areas of academic activity require considerable development – throughout the academic life-cycle.  Institutional support for HED is often fragmented and dispersed, or non-existent.  This reduces the efficacy of institutional assistance to academics and academic communities.

As Professor of Higher Education Development, Shelda Debowski developed new models that better recognise the integrated nature of academic learning. These models have been successfully applied across the U.K., U.S., Japan, China, New Zealand and Australia.

Professor Debowski has conducted a range of workshops and seminars to guide universities through the implementation of these practices. She offers support across a broad spectrum, including:

• Guiding academic and research leaders as to their practice and impact
• Diagnosing and encouraging the alignment of policy, practice, leadership and academic cultures
• Supporting the holistic development of academics through residential development programs, coaching and faculty-based strategies
• Evaluating the effectiveness of existing academic support services
• Guiding the development of effective academic development services to ensure key academic needs are being supported by central service agencies (e.g. Teaching and Learning centres, human resource services and research offices)