Some points to reflect upon

We met up with Tom (project evaluator) to discuss the development and progress of the NATA. Some of the key points that emerged from that discussion included:

• Turnover of network members/representatives remains a constant challenge in maintaining an effective network.
• There is very little alignment or commonality of interest between what the PENS and NATA are doing; resulting in little motivation to engage with each other.
• The NATA may achieve the project outcomes/deliverables but at the same time fail to deliver a sustainable network. These are two completely different outcomes which we need to consider. Moreover, if we can’t make it sustainable why is that?
• Evaluation approach – Phase 1 completed, Phase 2 is being done through the 6-weekly meetings and Phase 3 will involve a more formal interview-based approach.

Promoting the ALTC Good Practice Reports

As part of the NATA objectives, we are currently working on a strategy to promote the series of Good Practice Reports commissioned by the ALTC to provide a legacy of the project they funded. These reports provide a great deal of valuable information for the sector and can be found at the OLT website. The topics of these completed reports include:

• Assessment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students (2011)
• Assuring graduate outcomes (2011)
• Blended learning (2011)
• Curriculum renewal (2011)
• Learning and teaching across cultures (2011)
• Revitalising the academic workforce (2012)
• Supporting students’ transition into higher education (2011)
• Technology enhanced learning and teaching (2011)
• Work integrated learning (2011)

At present we are working with the Good Practice Report authors to develop asynchronous resources that will highlight the value of these reports, including how they may be effectively used by practitioners as well as flagging key projects. These resources will take the form of a short 3-5 minute clip (audio over slides) and will be housed both on the OLT website and the NATA blog. We hope to have these resources available to the sector later in 2013.

NATA Research Ethics Approved

Just letting everyone know that the ethics application submitted to USQ titled 'An investigation into network leadership within established Australasian tertiary education associations' has been accepted by the Human Research Ethics Committee.

The Research Aims:

To develop expand understandings in order to:

• Improve the effectiveness of communication and engagement with NATA members at large
• Enable and support network leaders of collaborative partners to encourage collaboration and increase membership engagement
• Review the utilisation of technologies to support best practice in network engagement
• Foster, encourage and support further network-based collaborative initiatives

Research Questions:

1. What network leadership strategies support good practice in leading networks to foster engagement of members in established Australasian Tertiary Education Associations? 
2. What communication strategies, technologies, and approaches support good practice to foster engagement of members in established Australasian Tertiary Education Associations? 
3. What common ground exists between organisations that could provide a basis for collaboration into the future?

Intended Outcomes:

1. Improved understanding of network leadership and network leadership strategies
2. Improved understandings of the types and efficacy of existing communication strategies that are currently in use within HE networks
3. Improved understanding of cross-partner synergies and rationale for continued collaboration
4. Enhanced collaboration and communication within and between participating associations