Rachel Fitzgerald
- Email:
- rachel.fitzgerald@uq.edu.au
- Phone:
- +61 7 336 56575
- Phone:
- +61 7 334 67308
Overview
Background
Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald is the Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at The University of Queensland. Internationally recognised for her expertise in Digital Education, Rachel leads digital transformation and curriculum innovation across the university, with a strong focus on generative AI, inclusive pedagogy, and lifelong learning.
Rachel co-chairs the national TEFA Network, supporting over 1100 Education-Focused Academics across Australia, and serves as Senior Editor (Educational Technology) for the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice. She is actively engaged in national and international conversations on the ethical and impactful use of AI in higher education, and regularly contributes to sector conferences, symposia, and thought leadership.
Her current research and practice explore microcredentials, workplace learning, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in digitally enabled and AI-enhanced contexts.
Online Profiles
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/rmfitzgerald
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelmfitz
- Bluesky: @rmfitzg.bsky.social
Availability
- Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Computer Science, University of Northampton
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Lancaster
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
Rachel Fitzgerald’s research focuses on the transformation of higher education through digital learning, curriculum innovation, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Her work directly supports educators and institutions to design inclusive, future-oriented learning experiences that respond to evolving student and workforce needs.
She has led the development of frameworks and resources that inform course and program design across disciplines, including the CRAFT framework for curriculum design in AI-enhanced learning environments. Her research underpins professional learning and academic development initiatives adopted at the institutional level and shared nationally through open-access publications and sector networks.
As co-chair of the TEFA Network, Rachel supports a national community of over 1100 Education-Focused Academics and contributes to sector-wide conversations on teaching excellence and the role of educators in an AI-enabled future.
Works
Search Professor Rachel Fitzgerald’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Other Outputs
Beyond the hype: Evaluate the impact of AI on learning (and get published) workshop
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Gribble, Lynne and Raiti, John (2024). Beyond the hype: Evaluate the impact of AI on learning (and get published) workshop. Online: Open Publishing Association.
2024
Book Chapter
Integrating GenAI in higher education
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) edited by Sue Beckingham, Jenny Lawrence, Stephen Powell and Peter Hartley. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003482918-7
2023
Conference Publication
Creating a dialogue about evaluation; a students-as-partners approach to feedback about learning and teaching
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.
2023
Book Chapter
A high impact program design framework to support future focused curriculum design
Russell, Holly, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Meth, Deanna and Huijser, Henk (2023). A high impact program design framework to support future focused curriculum design. High impact practices in higher education: International perspectives high impact practices in higher education. (pp. 29-44) edited by Enakshi Sengupta. Leeds, United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing. doi: 10.1108/S2055-364120230000051003
2023
Book Chapter
The opportunities and challenges in the portability and authentication of micro-credentials and short courses in a post-COVID landscape
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2023). The opportunities and challenges in the portability and authentication of micro-credentials and short courses in a post-COVID landscape. Technology-enhanced learning and the virtual university. (pp. 1-13) edited by Michael David Sankey, Henk Huijser and Rachel Fitzgerald. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-9438-8_24-1
2023
Journal Article
Addressing the challenging elements of distance education
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Huijser, Henk, Altena, Sharon and Armellini, Ale (2023). Addressing the challenging elements of distance education. Distance Education, 44 (2), 207-212. doi: 10.1080/01587919.2023.2209527
2023
Journal Article
Editorial: Artificial Intelligence is Awesome, but Good Teaching Should Always Come First
Crawford, Joseph, Vallis, Carmen, Yang, Jianhua, Fitzgerald, Rachel and O'dea, Christine (2023). Editorial: Artificial Intelligence is Awesome, but Good Teaching Should Always Come First. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 20 (7) 01. doi: 10.53761/1.20.7.01
2023
Book Chapter
The Virtual University: Moving from Fiction to Fact
Sankey, Michael David, Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The Virtual University: Moving from Fiction to Fact. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 3-19) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_1
2023
Book Chapter
The Opportunities and Challenges in the Portability and Authentication of Micro-credentials and Short Courses in a Post-COVID Landscape
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2023). The Opportunities and Challenges in the Portability and Authentication of Micro-credentials and Short Courses in a Post-COVID Landscape. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 465-477) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_24
2023
Book Chapter
The Role of Analytics When Supporting Staff and Students in the Virtual Learning Environment
Jones, Hazel and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The Role of Analytics When Supporting Staff and Students in the Virtual Learning Environment. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 187-200) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_11
2023
Book Chapter
The role of analytics when supporting staff and students in the virtual learning environment
Jones, Hazel and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The role of analytics when supporting staff and students in the virtual learning environment. Technology-enhanced learning and the virtual university. (pp. 1-14) edited by Michael David Sankey, Henk Huijser and Rachel Fitzgerald. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-9438-8_11-1
2023
Book
Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University
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
2023
Book Chapter
The Virtual University in Practice
Sankey, Michael David, Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The Virtual University in Practice. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 619-639) Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_31
2022
Conference Publication
Reconnecting lifelong learners through short courses and microcredentials designed with industry partners
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Huijser, Henk, Umarova, Anastasiya and Adachi, Chie (2022). Reconnecting lifelong learners through short courses and microcredentials designed with industry partners. ASCILITE 2022 Conference, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 4-7 December 2022. Tugun, QLD, Australia: ASCILITE Publications. doi: 10.14742/apubs.2022.141
2022
Journal Article
Supporting university students’ learning across time and space: a from-scratch, personalised and mobile-friendly approach
Rossiter, Eliza, Thomson, T.J. and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2022). Supporting university students’ learning across time and space: a from-scratch, personalised and mobile-friendly approach. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 21 (1), 108-130. doi: 10.1108/itse-07-2022-0082
2022
Conference Publication
A personalized approach to learning across time and space
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
2022
Conference Publication
A personalized approach to flexible learning
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.
2021
Conference Publication
Exploring industry-university partnerships in the creation of short courses and micro-credentials
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
2020
Other Outputs
Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university (Australasian session)
Huijser, Henk, Fitzgerald, Rachel and Salmon, Gilly (2020). Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university (Australasian session). Tugun, QLD, Australia: Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE).
2020
Other Outputs
Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university (European session)
Huijser, Henk, Fitzgerald, Rachel and Salmon, Gilly (2020). Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university (European session). Online webinar hosted by ASCILITE: Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE).
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Examining the Process of Assessment Innovation in Business Education: A Complex Adaptive Systems Approach
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Christine Slade
-
Doctor Philosophy
An Empirical Study on Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurial Learning Programmes in Shaping Female Entrepreneurs Efficacy in Oman
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Russell Manfield
-
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of learning strategy instruction on academic self-concept development in enabling students
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Lodge
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald directly for media enquiries about:
- Digital Education
- Digital Transformation
- Future of Business Education
- Future of Higher Education
- Integrity of Online Education
- Learning Analytics
- Learning and Development
- Learning and Teaching
- Micro-Credentials
- Online Learning Experience
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: