Overview
Background
Professor Kelly Matthews is an expert on the student experience in higher education—recently ranked amongst the top 5% of cited scholars globally in higher education, teaching and curriculum, and student partnership—and is an award-winning university teacher.
Her research, spanning over 150 publications and 100 invited talks, is about impact---shaping how students actively participate in their learning, directly improving experiences for students and informing the practices of teaching staff globally. Awarded an Australian Teaching Fellowship and a Higher Education Academy Principal Fellowship, Kelly has
- established influential international writing groups that mentor and motivate emerging scholars to publish about their educational practices,
- co-founded the International Journal for Students as Partners to enable students and staff from across the world to shape what counts as knowledge,
- created and sustained the Students as Partners Network to both celebrate and inspire educational practices across universities worldwide, and
- led collaborative, multi-institutional projects that recognise and promote educational leadership and change through applied research.
In 2025, Kelly is leading a multi-institutional project with Deakin, Monash, and UTS to shape AI policy and practice through student voice.
Kelly is the Academic Lead for Student Experience and Strategic Initiatives in the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Portfolio in the Institute of Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Availability
- Professor Kelly Matthews is:
- Not available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, University of New Orleans
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Institute of Company Directors
Works
Search Professor Kelly Matthews’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Conference Publication
Using interactive simulations to enhance student engagement in mathematics and physics
Wegener, Margaret J., Kenny, Elise , Ponce Campuzano, Juan , Roberts, Anthony P., Matthews, Kelly and McIntyre, Timothy J. (2017). Using interactive simulations to enhance student engagement in mathematics and physics. Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, Melbourne, Australia, 27-28 September 2017.
2017
Journal Article
Learning together through international collaborative writing groups
Healey, Mick and Matthews, Kelly E. (2017). Learning together through international collaborative writing groups. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 5 (1), 1-6. doi: 10.20343/5.1.2
2017
Journal Article
Survey of research approaches utilised in the scholarship of teaching and learning publications
Divan, Aysha, Ludwig, Lynn O, Matthews, Kelly, Motley, Phillip M and Tomljenovic-Berube, Ana (2017). Survey of research approaches utilised in the scholarship of teaching and learning publications. Teaching and Learning Inquiry, 5 (2), 16-29. doi: 10.20343/teachlearninqu.5.2.3
2016
Journal Article
Redefining ‘early career’ in academia: a collective narrative approach
Bosanquet, Agnes, Mailey, Alana, Matthews, Kelly and Lodge, Jason (2016). Redefining ‘early career’ in academia: a collective narrative approach. Higher Education Research and Development, 36 (5), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2016.1263934
2016
Journal Article
Students as partners as the future of student engagement
Matthews, Kelly (2016). Students as partners as the future of student engagement. Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 1 (1), 1-5.
2016
Journal Article
Being ‘job ready’ is not the purpose of university science degrees
Matthews, Kelly E. (2016, 08 09). Being ‘job ready’ is not the purpose of university science degrees
2016
Journal Article
Graduate learning outcomes in science: variation in perceptions of single- and dual-degree students
Dvorakova, Lucie S. and Matthews, Kelly (2016). Graduate learning outcomes in science: variation in perceptions of single- and dual-degree students. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 42 (6), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/02602938.2016.1208804
2016
Journal Article
Toward curriculum convergence for graduate learning outcomes: academic intentions and student experiences
Matthews, Kelly E. and Mercer-Mapstone, Lucy D. (2016). Toward curriculum convergence for graduate learning outcomes: academic intentions and student experiences. Studies in Higher Education, 43 (4), 644-659. doi: 10.1080/03075079.2016.1190704
2016
Other Outputs
Involving students in science higher education = Effective leadership
Matthews, Kelly (2016). Involving students in science higher education = Effective leadership. Australian Council of Deans of Science, Teaching Learning Centre: ACDS Teaching Learning Centre.
2016
Other Outputs
Students as partners in subject based research and inquiry + the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) at the International Summer Institute on Students as Partners
Matthews, Kelly, Mercer-Mapstone, Lucy, Dvorakova, Lucie Sam and Groenendijk, Lauren (2016). Students as partners in subject based research and inquiry + the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) at the International Summer Institute on Students as Partners. McMaster University:
2016
Journal Article
Quantitative skills as a graduate learning outcome: exploring students’ evaluative expertise
Matthews, Kelly E., Adams, Peter and Goos, Merrilyn (2016). Quantitative skills as a graduate learning outcome: exploring students’ evaluative expertise. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 42 (4), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/02602938.2016.1161725
2016
Other Outputs
Social networks in science teaching and learning
Matthews, Kelly (2016). Social networks in science teaching and learning. Australian Council of Deans of Science, Teaching Learning Centre: ACDS Teaching Learning Centre.
2016
Conference Publication
Activity theory and transnational education: A comparative investigation of Chinese students' internet-assisted learning experience in the China-Australia cross-cultural context
Dai, Kun, Matthews, Kelly and Anthony Wright (2016). Activity theory and transnational education: A comparative investigation of Chinese students' internet-assisted learning experience in the China-Australia cross-cultural context. XVI World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, Beijing, China, 22-26 August 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
International student perspectives on The ethics of SoTL research
Bunnell, Sarah, Felten, Peter, Marquis, Beth, Matthews, Kelly and Abbott, Sophia (2016). International student perspectives on The ethics of SoTL research. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL), Los Angeles, CA, United States, 12-15 October 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
'Students as Partners’ in Higher Education: An insurmountable challenge or an opportunity for transformation?
Mercer-Mapstone, Lucy, Matthews, Kelly, Rueckert, Caroline, Thomas, Lisa and Varnham, Sally (2016). 'Students as Partners’ in Higher Education: An insurmountable challenge or an opportunity for transformation?. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Conference, Fremantle, WA, Australia, 4-7 July, 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
How is science taught? A program level measurement of how we teach 21st century undergraduates
Drinkwater, Michael J. and Matthews, Kelly (2016). How is science taught? A program level measurement of how we teach 21st century undergraduates. Australian Conference of Science and Mathematics Education, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 28-29 September 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
International stories of student-staff collaboration and engagement: the role of ISSOTL Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in connecting like-minded scholars
Dvorakova, Lucie S., Matthews, Kelly, Verwood, Roselynn, Maurer, Trent, Taylor, Paul and Thibou, Shevell (2016). International stories of student-staff collaboration and engagement: the role of ISSOTL Special Interest Groups (SIGs) in connecting like-minded scholars. International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL), Los Angeles, CA, United States, 12-15 October 2016.
2016
Journal Article
Quantitative skills as a graduate learning outcome of university science degree programmes: student performance explored through the planned–enacted–experienced curriculum model
Matthews, Kelly E., Adams, Peter and Goos, Merrilyn (2016). Quantitative skills as a graduate learning outcome of university science degree programmes: student performance explored through the planned–enacted–experienced curriculum model. International Journal of Science Education, 38 (11), 1-15. doi: 10.1080/09500693.2016.1215568
2016
Conference Publication
Student experiences with contrasting first year science programs
Schmidt, Susanne, Matthews, Kelly, Firn, Jennifer and Whelan, Karen (2016). Student experiences with contrasting first year science programs. Queensland Universities Educators Showcase, Brisbane, Australia, 26-27 September 2016.
2016
Conference Publication
Exploring stories about SoTL International Collaborative Writing Groups (ICWGs)
Healey, Mick, Dvorakova, Lucie S., Higgs, Bettie, Marquis, Beth, Martensson, Katarina, Matthews, Kelly and McDonlald, Jacquie (2016). Exploring stories about SoTL International Collaborative Writing Groups (ICWGs). International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL), Los Angeles, CA, United States, 12-15 October 2016.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Kelly Matthews is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Student engagement and partnership on teacher identity development: A comparative study between Indonesia and Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robin Shields
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Disrupting and reproducing power: A focused ethnography of intercultural learner-teacher partnership using Bourdieu's social field theory and intercultural communication theory
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Shuang Liu
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Speaking for ourselves: Indian students co-constructed stories of engaging in partnership with staff in an Australian university
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Suraiya Abdul Hameed
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Relationship, engagement, and culture: Exploring the conceptions of students as partners in Chinese higher education
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Lodge
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Being a teaching-focused academic in a research-intensive university: A focused ethnography
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Deanne Gannaway
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Enacting Pasin as storying as research: Ways of rethinking the health workers' curriculum in Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Di Eley
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
An exploration of Chinese students' learning experiences in China-Australia '2+2' articulation programmes: In between two systems.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Bob Lingard, Dr Vicente Reyes
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Kelly Matthews directly for media enquiries about:
- AI in higher education
- assessment
- education quality
- higher education
- student engagement
- student voice
- teaching impact
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