At Griffith Institute for Educational Research (GIER), we have one of the largest concentrations of university-based education researchers in the country. Our researchers work are an interdisciplinary coalition working to ensure that the benefits which can flow from any form of education and learning are genuinely accessible to all people in all contexts. Our focus is on the pursuit of educational and social justice, and we invest in research and research activities that generate new knowledge about diverse learners and diverse contexts. Our Blog provides introductions to our outstanding team of researchers, and our original, impactful research.
Latest posts
Meet Dr Yoriko Kikkawa
Dr Yoriko Kikkawa is a dedicated GIER research fellow with expertise in research and understanding behaviours and practices from cross cultural and cross disciplinary perspectives. Arriving as an exchange student over 20 years ago with a Bachelor of Education and a keen curiosity in the cross-cultural differences between education in Japan and Australia, Yoriko now specialises in innovative qualitative research. Read More
Honorary Doctorate Award: Professor Peter Grootenboer
In 2020, Professor Peter Grootenboer (long term member of GIER) was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Gothenburg University, Sweden. Due to COVID related restrictions, the ceremony and associated events have been regularly postponed. We are excited to celebrate the fact that the award ceremony took place in Sweden on Friday 6 May 2022. Read More
Meet Dr Loraine McKay
Dr Loraine McKay is a consistent achiever, with strong guiding values in social justice and equity, who has created an international profile as a researcher in the fields of pre-service teacher identify development. Her work incorporates well-being, resilient-engagement, self-efficacy and agency to prepare teacher for the rigours of the professional world. Read More
AVETRA Conference: Inequality a major focus of presenters
GIER members were recently involved in the ‘Australasian Vocational Education and Training Research Association’ (AVETRA) annual conference, a hybrid event held over two days (28-29 April). GIER’s Deputy Director, Steven Hodge, was conference chair. Read More
Meet Associate Professor Kevin Larkin
Associate Professor Kevin Larkin is an inspiring and dedicated educator and researcher, who’s been working in the field of education his entire life. After 15 years as a primary school teacher and 14 years as a Deputy Principal, Kevin completed his Doctoral studies at Griffith in 2010, and has been working here since 2012, specifically with pre-service teachers in mathematics. He has been a long standing and valued member of GIER. Read More
Unpacking the tensions between local and national skills policy
GIER was delighted to welcome Professor Susan James Relly from Oxford University to present a seminar on her latest research project. Professor Relly's engaging talk included a wealth of insight into the contested space between national education and skills policy, Further education colleges (TAFE equivalent in Australia), and local collaborative anchors, including employers, universities and hospitals (‘eds and med’s). Read More
Meet Dr Sonal Nakar
Student learning in the 21st century is complex and requires a deep understanding of the realities of teaching in diverse, under resourced and uncertain contexts. Dr Sonal Nakar has developed her passion and intricate knowledge of ethics and ethical reasoning for teacher education, with a career encompassing private and public teaching in schools and the vocational education (VET) sector in India and Australia. Read More
From being “too afraid to speak” to “too afraid not to”
There’s long been acknowledgement of the importance of embedding Indigenous content into the Australian curriculum and classrooms, however recent research tells us teachers are still quite apprehensive around doing so. There are long standing fears of getting it wrong, certain sensitivities at play, and a lack of awareness of how to Indigenise a classroom or apply appropriate Indigenous frameworks. Read More
Meet Professor Leonie Rowan
Professor Leonie Rowan is the Director of GIER. Her research is strongly grounded in the pursuit of social and educational justice and she is passionate about changing the way we think and act, both consciously and unconsciously in the space of diversity. Read More
Principal leadership for parent engagement in disadvantaged schools: New book
GIER member Dr Linda Willis has co-authored a new book, Principal leadership for parent engagement in disadvantaged schools: What qualities and strategies distinguish effective principals? Read More
