Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald

Associate Professor / Deputy Associ

School of Business
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
rachel.fitzgerald@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 56575
+61 7 334 67308

Overview

Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald is the Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. Rachel is internationally acknowledged for her expertise in Technology-Enhanced Learning and stands as a curriculum leader in the digital age, specializing in contemporary higher education and AI-driven learning. Rachel has spearheaded teaching and learning initiatives across various institutions globally and is leading research on microcredentials, workplace learning and Scholarship of AI Teaching and Learning.

Online Profiles

Research Interests

  • Digital
    Digital Transformation, Learning and Development in Organizations, Micro-credentials, Online Learning, Elearning, Hybrid Learning, Business School Research, Higher Education Curriculum, Higher Education, Higher Education Policy, Future of Learning,

Research Impacts

Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald's scholarly contributions have been showcased in prominent SoTL journals and eLearning Forums. Additionally, her work has played a crucial role in shaping curriculum and digital frameworks at several higher education institutions. Rache has also provided mentorship to course leaders and tutors, guiding them in developing curriculum tailored for the digital age.

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework) of Educational Administration, Management and Leadership, University of Northampton
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Lancaster
  • Masters (Coursework) of Computer Science, University of Northampton

Publications

  • Newell, Samantha, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Hall, Kimberley, Mills, Jennie, Beynen, Tina, May, Ivy Chia Sook, Mason, Jon and Lai, Evelyn (2024). Integrating GenAI in higher education. Using Generative AI Effectively in Higher Education. (pp. 42-53) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003482918-7

  • Cossu, Remo, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Birthisel, Marcus, Mishiro, Keiko, Lin, Ing Sheuan and Fleming, Melanie (2023). Creating a dialogue about evaluation; a students-as-partners approach to feedback about learning and teaching. 34th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Annual Conference: Adapting to the Changing Expectations of Students and Industry, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 3-6 December 2023. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Australasian Association for Engineering Education.

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel, Huijser, Henk, Meth, Deanna and Neilan, Kellene (2020). Student-staff partnerships in academic development: the course design studio as a model for sustainable course-wide impact. International Journal for Academic Development, 25 (2), 134-146. doi: 10.1080/1360144X.2019.1631170

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Available Projects

  • Available Projects

    • Understanding microcredentials through the lens of industry

    • There is an opportunity for a qualified applicant who is interested in higher education research to become a MPHIL/PhD student to explore industry needs in relation to microcredentials. This project aims to identify how higher education can work with organisations to identify what value, if any, microcredentials have for skills development for the workforce where there is increasing pressure to meet the needs of the growing knowledge and innovation based economy of Australia.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Featured Publications

Book

  • Sankey, Michael David, Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel eds. (2023). Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. University Development and Administration, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-9438-8

Book Chapter

Journal Article

Conference Publication

  • Cossu, Remo, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Birthisel, Marcus, Mishiro, Keiko, Lin, Ing Sheuan and Fleming, Melanie (2023). Creating a dialogue about evaluation; a students-as-partners approach to feedback about learning and teaching. 34th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Annual Conference: Adapting to the Changing Expectations of Students and Industry, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 3-6 December 2023. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Australasian Association for Engineering Education.

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel, Rossiter, Eliza and Thompson, T. J. (2022). A personalized approach to learning across time and space. 1st European Conference on e-Learning - ECEL 2022, Brighton, United Kingdom, 27-28 October 2022. Kidmore End, United Kingdom: Academic Conferences International. doi: 10.34190/ecel.21.1.901

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel, Rossiter, Eliza and Thompson, T. J. (2022). A personalized approach to flexible learning. 21st European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL 2022, Brighton, United Kingdom, 27 – 28 October 2022. Sonning Common, United Kingdom: Academic Conferences and Publishing International.

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2021). Exploring industry-university partnerships in the creation of short courses and micro-credentials. ASCILITE 2021: Back to the Future, Armidale, NSW Australia, 29 November - 1 December 2021. Armidale, NSW Australia: University of New England. doi: 10.14742/ascilite2021.0149

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel and Henderson-Martin, Hayley (2015). Transforming the first year experience (HE) with digital literacy via techno-social engagement and evaluation. 14th European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL 2015, Hatfield, United Kingdom, 29 - 30 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Academic Conferences.

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel, Anderson, Maggie and Thompson, Ross (2014). MOOC's mass marketing for a niche audience. 13th European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark, 30 - 31 October 2014. Kidmore End: Academic Conferences.

  • Fitzgerald, Rachel (2011). To what extent does a digital audio feedback strategy support large cohorts?. 10th European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL), Brighton England, Nov 10-11, 2011. NR READING: Dechema e.V..

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Available Projects

    • Understanding microcredentials through the lens of industry

    • There is an opportunity for a qualified applicant who is interested in higher education research to become a MPHIL/PhD student to explore industry needs in relation to microcredentials. This project aims to identify how higher education can work with organisations to identify what value, if any, microcredentials have for skills development for the workforce where there is increasing pressure to meet the needs of the growing knowledge and innovation based economy of Australia.