Associate Professor Gavin Sanderson

My background

I was born in Broken Hill, NSW and completed my primary and secondary schooling there. It was a brilliant place to spend my formative years. I've been working in education-related fields since graduating with my first degree from Flinders University in the early 1980s. I initially taught physical education, science, and mathematics at secondary schools in Broken Hill and Adelaide before returning to Flinders in 1985 to study Honours in Education. I then worked as a Lecturer in Physical Education at the South Australian College of Advanced Education until 1990.

In 1990 I went to Japan to teach English language in Okayama-ken. Coincidentally, it was in Japan that I first heard the word 'internationalisation'. That 12 month experience was the catalyst for a career in internationalisation-related positions at The University of Adelaide and Flinders University in areas such as international student services, marketing and recruitment, and supervising MEd dissertations of international students. Around the turn of the millennium I completed the MEd (Int Ed) at Monash by distance.

From 2002-2005 I studied a PhD full-time at Flinders University with the aid of an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship. A pdf of the thesis is available from the 'qualifications' section of this page.

Since starting work at UniSA in early 2006, I have been working in academic development with a strong interest in internationalisation. I am also the Specialisation Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in Education (University Teaching).

Best wishes for your learning, teaching, and research. Gavin

New in Dec 2009 - Visitors to this page:

Useful links

Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC)

ALTC Exchange - a brilliant site!

The Australian higher education system (DEEWR)

Australian Universities Quality Agency - Good Practices in Higher Education database

Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE)

Database of Research on International Education

Deliberations on Teaching & Learning in Higher Education (UK)

Education Network Australia (edna)

International Higher Education Clearinghouse (Boston College)

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

International Journal of Teaching & Learning in Higher Education

ISANA: International Education Association

Journal of Learning Design

NAFSA: Association of International Educators

Observatory on Borderless Higher Education

Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (University of Glasgow)

Staff & Educational Development Association (SEDA) (UK)

Supporting Learning (The Higher Education Academy) (UK)

Teaching & Educational Development Institute (TEDI) (UQ)

Teaching & Learning @ UniSA

The (UK) Higher Education Academy’s Internationalisation page

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

• Teaching and learning in higher education
• Cosmopolitanism and intercultural communication
• Internationalisation of higher education

Inaugural Life Member of ISANA: International Education Association - http://www.isana.org.au

HERDSA - The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia - http://www.herdsa.org.au

ANZCIES - The Australian and New Zealand Comparative and International Education Society - http://www.anzcies.org

IEAA - International Education Association of Australia [UniSA has Silver Corporate Membership status with IEAA] - http://www.ieaa.org.au

EAIE - European Association for International Education - http://www.eaie.org/

Bachelor of Education (Physical Education), Flinders University.

Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) (Honours), Flinders University. Awarded a First Class pass and the Flinders University Medal.

Master of Education (International Education), Monash University.

Doctor of Philosophy, Flinders University. The full-time doctoral studies were undertaken with the support of an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA). The title of the thesis was Examination of a profile of the ideal lecturer for teaching international students. The research examined the theoretical and practical pillars of a model of education from Western Europe which encouraged lecturers to develop certain knowledge, skills, and attitudes for teaching students from diverse cultural, language, and educational backgrounds. The research thesis recommended that the model should be revised to reflect a transformationalist view of global processes rather than one that is hyperglobalist in its orientation. This would enhance teaching and learning in the international classroom and would also support lecturers to pursue transformative, cosmopolitan possibilities in relation to their personal and professional outlooks.

• Globalisation theory and higher education
• Internationalisation theory and higher education
• Existential issues in the internationalisation of teaching in higher education
• Cosmopolitanism and the internationalisation of teaching in higher education
• Teaching international students
• Transformative education theory
• Teaching and learning in higher education
• Transnational education: I am the lead author and project co-leader for the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) priority project titled 'Moderation for Fair Assessment in Transnational Learning & Teaching'. The two year project began in October 2008 and attracted funding of $220,000. Partner institutions are Curtin University of Technology, Southern Cross University, and Taylor's University College (Malaysia).

A selection of research publications and associated academic activities

Sanderson. G. (forthcoming). Internationalisation and teaching. A paper for a HERD internationalisation publication. The paper is modelled on the invited 'trigger paper' that was written for delegates at the Centre for International Curriculum Inquiry and Networking (CICIN) conference, 'Internationalising the home student', Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom, Friday 19 June 2009.

Sanderson, G. (2009). An institutional approach to weaving internationalisation through learning and teaching. Invited keynote presentation at UCSI University International Education Conference, 'Weaving the tapestry of international education', Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 12- 13 November 2009.

Invited participation in 'International Week' at Waikato Institute of Technology (NZ) to facilitate workshops on teaching international students (18 Oct 2009).

Wallace, M., Mahmud, S., Yeo, S., Briguglio, C., Sanderson, G., Hukam-Singh, P. & Thuraingsam, T. (2009) Moderation of Assessment in Transnational Higher Education. A presentation at the 2009 Australian International Education Conference 'Transitions and Transformations', Sydney, 14-16 October. (Review in progress).

Invited participation to Murdoch University to facilitate workshops on teaching international students, transnational education, and moderation (1-2 Oct 2009).

Invited presentation on 'internationalisation and the curriculum' for the Teaching and Learning Unit in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce at The University of Melbourne (9 Sept 2009).

Sanderson, G. (2009). Inclusive teaching sans internationalised curricula: A sufficient condition for global citizenship? In Rust, C. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 16th Improving Student Learning Symposium - Improving Student Learning through the Curriculum (Chapter 4, pp. 78-98). Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development: Oxford.

Sanderson. G. (2009). The secret lives of internationalised lecturers; A detective's story (PDF, 320KB) An invited paper for structured discussion by delegates at the Centre for International Curriculum Inquiry and Networking (CICIN) conference, 'Internationalising the home student', Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom, Friday 19 June 2009.

Sanderson, G. (2008). Being an authentic teacher in higher education (PDF, 245KB). Invited keynote presentation at The 3rd Teaching and Learning Symposium, Taylor’s University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 11 October 2008 (Unpublished paper)

Bambacas, M,. Sanderson, G., Feast, V., & Yang, S. (2008). Understanding transnational MBA students’ instructional and communication preferences. Journal of International Education in Business 1(1), pp. 15 - 28. (Refereed paper)

Sanderson, G. (2008). A foundation for the internationalization of the academic Self in higher education. Journal of Studies in International Education, 12(3), pp. 276-307 (Refereed paper)

Invited seminar and workshop titled ‘Internationalisation of higher education in Australia; What it means for Lecturers’ for Swinburne University's Internationalisation of the Curriculum Showcase, 31 July 2008.

Invited presentation titled ‘Internationalisation of higher education in Australia - challenges and opportunities’ for the School of Management International Education in Business Research Group Seminar, 17 April 2008, University of South Australia.

Sanderson, G. (Ed). (2007). Conference Proceedings of the 18th ISANA International Education Conference, 27 - 30 November 2007, Stamford Grand, Glenelg, South Australia, Australia.

Sanderson, G. (2007, 27-30 Nov). The strengths and limitations of using essentialist cultural theory to understand international students (PDF, 126KB). A presentation at the 18th ISANA: International Education conference 'Student success in international education', Adelaide, 27-30 November, 2007. (Refereed paper). Note: If referencing this paper, use Sanderson, G (2007), The strengths and limitations of using essentialist cultural theory to understand international students, Conference Proceedings of the 18th ISANA International Education Conference, 27 - 30 November 2007, Stamford Grand, Glenelg, South Australia, Australia. paper 36, page xx.

Sanderson, G. (2007, 27-30 Nov). An introduction to the Profile of the Ideal Lecturer for Teaching International Students. A presentation at the 18th ISANA: International Education conference 'Student success in international education', Adelaide, 27-30 November, 2007.

Bambacas, M,. Sanderson, G., Feast, V., & Yang, S. (2007, 4-7 Dec). Understanding the instructional preferences of transnational MBA students. A presentation at the 21st Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference, 4-7 December 2007, Sydney. (Refereed paper).

Sanderson, G. (2007, 10-12 Oct). Teaching international students: What has culture got to do with it? A presentation at the 2007 Australian International Education Conference 'Quality & Outcomes: Fulfilling the Promise', Melbourne, 10-12 October.

Teaching international students: Beyond tips and tricks. A workshop facilitated by Sanderson, G. & Leask, B. at the 2007 Australian International Education Conference 'Quality & Outcomes: Fulfilling the Promise', Melbourne, 10-12 October.

Internationalisation at home in business – an international journey. A panel presentation given by Sanderson, G., Ridings, P., Rosier, M., Leask, B. & Jenkins-Deas, B. at the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Annual Conference 2007, 12-15 September, Trondheim, Norway.

Sanderson, G. (2007). Candid views on internationalisation processes at two Australian universities. A presentation at the 2007 HERDSA Conference 'Enhancing Higher Education, Theory and Scholarship', Adelaide, 8-11 July.

Sanderson, G. (2006, 5-8 Dec). Education, internationalisation and cosmopolitanism: Some considerations. Invited keynote presentation at the 2006 ISANA International Education Conference 'Educate, Advocate, Empower', University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The PowerPoint presentation is available for viewing.

Sanderson, G. (2006, 26-30 Nov). Are considerations of ethnicity and culture relevant when teaching international students? An exploration of Biggs’s Three Levels of Teaching. A presentation at the 2006 AARE International Education Research Conference 'Engaging Pedagogies', Adelaide.

Sanderson, G. (2006). Examination of a profile of the ideal lecturer for teaching international students. Adelaide: Flinders University (PhD thesis).

Sanderson, G. (2005). 'Internationalisation' and related terms. Unpublished paper.

Sanderson, G. (2005, 6-8 Jul). The cosmopolitan lecturer in higher education. A presentation at the Sites of Cosmopolitanism conference, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia. (Refereed paper).

Sanderson, G. (2004). Existentialism, globalisation and the cultural Other. In International Education Journal, 4(4), 1-20. (Refereed paper). This paper won the Early Careers Award at the Educational Research Conference 2003 at Flinders University.

Sanderson G. (2004, 30 Nov-3 Dec). The use of practical teaching strategies for teaching international students: A case study. In 'Challenging Education: Socio-Cultural, Economic and Academic Outcomes - Conference Proceedings'. 15th ISANA International Conference 2004, Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, Victoria'. Melbourne: ISANA. ISBN: 0975718002 (Refereed paper).

Sanderson, G. (2002). Engaging with the Other; The Flinders experience with international students. In 'Australian and New Zealand Comparative and International Education Society (ANZCIES) - Conference Proceedings'. University of New England, December, 2002. (Refereed paper). ISBN: 1863898174 (CD)

Sanderson, G. (2002). International education developments in Singapore. In International Education Journal, 3(2), 85-103. (Refereed paper).

Gibbons, T. and Sanderson, G. (2002). Contemporary themes in the research enterprise. In International Education Journal, 3(4), 1-22. (Refereed paper).

Sanderson, G. (2001). Undertaking criticalist research in international education. In 'Harnessing the Power: ISANA 2001 12th National Conference - Conference Proceedings'. Pages 137-145. Fremantle WA: Promaco Conventions. 2001. ISBN: 186308097X

Sanderson, G. (2001). A business plan needs to reflect that International Education is more than just marketing. In 'Developing Global Capacity Through International Education - Conference proceedings' [CD-ROM]. Sydney: IDP Education Australia. 2001. 16p. ISBN: 0864030428

Sanderson G. (2001). Undertaking research in international education. In ARIES (Australian Research into International Education Services) 2(3) pp. 197-240, Winter 2001. ISSN: 1442-861X

Sanderson G. (2000). Promoting a culture of support at Australian universities. In ARIES (Australian Research into International Education Services) 1(2) pp. 91-101, Summer 2000. ISSN: 1442-861X

Sanderson, G. (Ed). (1996). International Student Advisers Network of Australia (ISANA). 7th National Conference, 1996, Glenelg, South Australia. 'Waves of Change: Extended Abstracts'. 145p. Conference held 3-6 December 1996.

Sanderson, G. (1986). Essays from an honours year. Adelaide: G. Sanderson.

Sanderson, G. (1986). A consideration of the structure and function of rules in sport to determine [i] the manner in which they contribute to the view that sport is unreal and separate from ordinary life, and [ii] how they achieve a suspension of the rules of ordinary life. Adelaide: The Flinders University of South Australia (Honours thesis)

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Higher education / Education

• Globalisation theory
• Internationalisation theory
• International students - marketing
• International students - pastoral care
• International students - teaching and learning
• Cosmopolitanism and internationalisation
• Existential issues in education
• Transformative education theory
• Reflection, self-reflection, critical reflection and critical self-reflection in tertiary teaching