Professor Liz Austen BA, MA, PhD, PFHEA
Interim Associate Dean Teaching & Learning
Summary
Dr Liz Austen leads institutional and sector wide research and evaluation in higher education as the Head of Evaluation and 香蕉视频 at 香蕉视频 and as an independent HE consultant. She is well known for her work on using evidence for enhancement and exploring methods of hearing student voices, specifically championing creative approaches and ethical practices.
About
My current role is focused on researching and evaluating the educational context of Higher Education. I lead the development of a 'evaluative mindset' at Hallam and an responsible for the evaluation strategy as outlined in our Access and Participation Plan. I also work as an independent HE consultant, undertaking work to contract with higher education stakeholder. Through previous experience as a criminological researcher, and of teaching research methods, I can lead both quantitative and qualitative research methodology to internal and external research projects. My current areas of research include teaching quality, student outcomes, student engagement and ethical practices. I have published on these topics in academic journals, edited books and national policy blogs.
Specialist areas of interest
Student experience and engagement, student lifestyles, epistemology and academic knowledge, research methodologies, policy reform
Teaching
College of Social Sciences and Arts
My previous undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience has been located in the discipline of criminology and focused on theoretical and methodological foundations of criminology, and drug use and deviant lifestyles. I now focus on teaching and learning (online and face to face) with staff, focusing on capacity building. I also support the development of student researchers through taught sessions.
Subject area
Criminology
Courses
My previous teaching experience has been located in the discipline of criminology and focused on theoretical and methodological foundations of criminology, and drug use and deviant lifestyles.
香蕉视频
I am an experienced Principal Investigator for internal and external research and evaluation. Most recently, I have led externally funded projects on areas relating to student outcomes (AdvanceHE), teaching excellence (Office for Students) and Critical Whiteness is Higher Education (AdvanceHE) and was a named researcher within projects which evaluate approaches to measuring learning gain (Office for Students) and explored access, success and progress of care experienced and estranged students (Unite Foundation). I also project managed the final months of the LEGACY project (learning gain pilot project – Office for Students). I am also working as a lead evaluator for the QAA Scotland Enhancement Themes.
Internally, my institutional research focuses on digital storytelling for enhancement and evaluations of approaches which address student retention and differential outcomes. In my work I champion the consideration of ethical practices and student experiences, and I have been invited to share my experience and insights across the higher education sector.
I lead research and evaluation within the 'Student Engagement, Evaluation and 香蕉视频' (STEER) team, which sits within the Student Experience, Teaching and Learning directorate. Our aim is to inform and develop practice within the University, in order to improve the student experience and support the delivery of the University Strategy.
Publications
Journal articles
Donnelly, A., Austen, L., Lowe, T., & Moxey, M. (2025). . Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 4 (1).
Donnelly, A., Austen, L., Lowe, T., & Moxey, M. (2025). Developing a community of student engagement practitioners: Evidence of value from a postgraduate professional development course at a UK university. Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 4.
Moores, E., Crockford, J., Woodfield, L., & Austen, L. (2024). . Frontiers in Education, 9.
Austen, L., & Donnelly, A. (2023). . Journal of Participatory 香蕉视频 Methods, 4 (2).
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2023). . Open Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 2 (2), 55-69.
Moores, E., Summers, R.J., Horton, M., Woodfield, L., Austen, L., & Crockford, J. (2023). . Frontiers in Education, 8.
Dickinson, J., Griffiths, T.-.L., & Austen, L. (2022). . Social 香蕉视频 Practice Journal, 12 (Spring), 22-31.
Austen, L. (2021). . Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 9 (2), 3-6.
Austen, L., Pickering, N., & Judge, M. (2020). . Journal of Further and Higher Education, 1-12.
Austen, L., Jones, M., & Wawera, A.-.S. (2018). . Social 香蕉视频 Practice - SRA Journal, 7, 27-34.
Austen, L., & Malone, C. (2018). . Practitioner 香蕉视频 in Higher Education, 11 (1), 47-58.
Austen, L., Heaton, C., Jones-Devitt, S., & Pickering, N. (2017). The Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change, 3 (1).
Jones-Devitt, S., Austen, L., Chitwood, E., Donnelly, A., Fearn, C., Heaton, C., ... Pickering, N. (2017). Journal of Educational Innovation Partnership and Change, 3 (1), 278-285.
Jones-Devitt, S., Austen, L., Irwin, B., Mcdonald, K., & Parkin, H. (2017). The Journal of Educational Innovation, Partnership and Change, 3 (1), 147-158.
Jones-Devitt, S., Austen, L., & Parkin, H. (2017). . Social 香蕉视频 Update, (66).
Austen, L. (2016). . Practitioner 香蕉视频 in Higher Education, 10 (2), 67-81.
Austen, L. (2016). Safer Communities, 15 (1), 4-10.
Austen, L. (2009). . Health, risk and society, 11 (5), 451-470.
Chadee, D., Austen, L., & Ditton, J. (2007). . .
Conference papers
Austen, L. (2021). 鈥淒on鈥檛鈥 you, forget about P鈥(articipation): Reflecting on APP evaluation practices specific to student success initiatives. In SRHE Conference 2021, (Re)Connecting, (Re)Building: Higher Education In Transformative Times, Online, 2021 - 2021.
Austen, L., Dickinson, J., Griffiths, T.-.L., Fletcher, A., Ramdehal, A., & Parkin, H.J. (2021). Changing Structures and Changing Spaces, reflections of Covid19, What does it mean to be a contemporary higher education student? In 'What does it mean to be a contemporary higher education student?' Eurostudents Conference, 17 June 2021 - 18 June 2021.
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2020). Engaging students with evidence. In QAA Quality Insights Conference, The Studio, Birmingham. Quality Assurance Agency
Austen, L. (2020). . In SRHE International Conference on 香蕉视频 into Higher Education, Newport, Wales, 2019 - 2019. SRHE:
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2019). Ethical dilemmas in institutional research and evaluation: an inclusive approach. In HEIR Conference 2019, Wolverhampton. Higher Education Institutional 香蕉视频ers Network
Austen, L. (2019). Engaging student and staff voices as data. In QAA Annual Conference, The UK Quality Summit: Successful Partnerships, Liverpool. Quality Assurance Agency
Austen, L., Thomson, C., & Beggs, R. (2018). Going Dragon hunting: using digital storytelling to enhance the student experience. In JISC Digifest 2018, Birmingham. JISC
Jones-Devitt, S., Parkin, H., & Austen, L. (2017). How can digital capability promote teaching excellence? Exploring guidelines for digitally-capable teaching excellence. In HEA鈥檚 Annual Conference: Generation TEF: Teaching in the spotlight, Manchester. Higher Education Academy
Austen, L. (2017). How do criminologists write feedback, and what do their students think of it? In British Society of Criminology Conference, 4 July 2017 - 7 July 2017.
Austen, L., & Malone, C. Exploring student perceptions of effective feedback. In 6th International Assessment in Higher Education Annual Conference.
Book chapters
Austen, L., Pickering, N., & Donnelly, A. (2023). 香蕉视频ing and evaluating student engagement 鈥 a methodological critique of data gathering approaches. In Lowe, T. (Ed.) Advancing Student Engagement in Higher Education: Reflection, critique and challenge. Routledge
Austen, L., Pickering, N., & Donnelly, A. (2023). 香蕉视频ing and evaluating student engagement. In Advancing Student Engagement in Higher Education. (pp. 18-30). Routledge:
Jones-Devitt, S., & Austen, L. (2022). 香蕉视频ing the impact of learning through COVID-19 and beyond: Time for some critical and counterfactual thinking? In Handbook of Digital Higher Education. (pp. 173-186).
Austen, L. (2021). The unknown student, and other short stories: An ethical and methodological exploration of students as data. In Doing Diversity for Success in Higher Education: Redressing Structural Inequalities in the Academy. Palgrave Macmillan
Jones-Devitt, S., Pickering, N., Austen, L., & Donnelly, A. (2020). Still the pedagogy of the oppressed? Going beyond the Hidden Curriculum to reimagine effective higher education provision for estranged and care experienced students. In Hinchcliffe, T. (Ed.) The Hidden Curriculum of Higher Education. (pp. 77-92). AdvanceHE
Austen, L. (2020). The amplification of student voices via institutional research and evaluation. In Lowe, T., & El Hakim, Y. (Eds.) A Handbook for Student Engagement in Higher Education. Taylor & Francis:
Malone, C., & Austen, L. (2017). . In Elkington, S., & Evans, C. (Eds.) Transforming Assessment In Higher Education: A Case Study Series. (pp. 90-93). York: Higher Education Academy:
Austen, L., & Cowburn, M. (2013). . In Cowburn, M., Duggan, M., Robinson, A., & Senior, P. (Eds.) Values in Criminology and Community Justice. (pp. 21-38). Bristol: Policy Press
Reports
Austen, L., & Donnelly, A. (2022). An Evaluation of the Process and Impact of the PGCERT/MA Student Engagement in Higher Education.
Austen, L., Hodgson, R., Heaton, C., Pickering, N., & Dickinson, J. (2021). . Advance HE.
Stevenson, J., Baker, Z., Harrison, N., Bland, B., Jones-Devitt, S., Donnelly, A., ... Austen, L. (2020). Unite Foundation.
Jones-Devitt, S., Pickering, N., Austen, L., Donnelly, A., Adesola, J., & weston, A. (2019). Evaluation of the National Mixed Methods Learning Gain Project (NMMLGP) and Student Perceptions of Learning Gain. Bristol: Office for Students.
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2018). . AdvanceHE.
Austen, L., Donnelly, A., McCaig, C., & O'Leary, C. (2018). . Office for Students website: Office for Students.
Austen, L., Parkin, H., Jones-Devitt, S., Mcdonald, K., & Irwin, B. (2016). . Gloucester: The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Internet Publications
Austen, L., & jones devitt, S. (2024). A challenge for senior leaders to act on evaluation evidence for improving student outcomes.
Austen, L. (2023). Evaluation should be an empowering tool for social justice.
Austen, L. (2023). Solving gaps in evaluation needs wicked solutions.
Austen, L. (2022). Working together on access and participation evaluation.
Austen, L., Kandiko Howson, C., & Scott, P. (2021). Higher education research: belonging, history, and practice.
Hodgson, R., & Austen, L. (2021). Fixing the leaky pipeline of impact evidence in access and participation work.
Austen, L., Donnelly, A., & Parkin, M. (2021). Students are surviving not thriving through financial hardship.
Austen, L. (2020). How to evaluate changes to teaching and learning in an age of Covid-19.
Jones-Devitt, S., & Austen, L. (2019). 鈥楲iven up鈥 leaders: time to inoculate against zombification. Or not?
Austen, L., Jones-Devitt, S., & Hasty, W. (2019). As well as objects, students should be users of data too.
Austen, L. (2019). Once upon a time: hearing student stories.
Austen, L. (2018). 鈥業t ain鈥檛 what we do, it鈥檚 the way that we do it鈥 鈥 researching student voices.
Presentations
Hodgson, R., & Austen, L. (2022). 'What works鈥 in student retention and success. Presented at: Student Retention and Success Symposium, Online
Austen, L., Jones-Devitt, S., Pickering, N., Donnelly, A., Weston, A., & Adesola, J. (2020). NMMLGP evaluation and student engagement. Presented at: Learning Gain National Conference, Birmingham
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2019). Exploring Critical Whiteness. Presented at: NEON BME Learners Working Group Final Symposium, Sheffield
Austen, L., & Illie, S. (2019). Learning Gain and Disciplinary Effects: Lessons for the Sector. Presented at: UK Deans of Science Winter Conference, London
Austen, L., Pickering, N., & Judge, M. (2019). Digital storytelling student reflections on the transition into higher education. Presented at: Foundation Year Annual Conference 2019, Brighton
Austen, L. (2019). Digital storytelling as research in higher education. Presented at: Diversity, Equity, and Innovation: Educational 香蕉视频 for the Future, Bristol
Austen, L. (2019). Capturing and responding to student voices: innovative alternatives. Presented at: Student Voice Think Tank event, Glasgow
Austen, L. (2019). Digital Storytelling (香蕉视频ing Students for Impact). Presented at: The Secret Life of Students, London
Austen, L., Jones-Devitt, S., & Lawton, M. (2019). Feedback Literacy and Patchwork Assessment. Presented at: Open University Assessment Programme, Milton Keynes
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2019). EDI and Institutional Readiness. Presented at: Towards Embedding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the Curriculum Collaborative Network, York
Austen, L. (2019). Supporting students navigating the data landscape. Presented at: QAA Scotland Student-Led Project Event, Glasgow
Austen, L. (2019). Measuring Learning Gain: Lesson from LEGACY. Presented at: University of Leicester Pedagogic 香蕉视频 Group, Leicester
Jones-Devitt, S., & Austen, L. (2019). Use, not abuse, of the Student Voice: recent research and relevance for programme leaders navigating a cold, neoliberal climate. Presented at: QAA Scotland Programme Leaders Group, Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2019). Reimagining pedagogic research: using creative approaches that make a real difference. Presented at: Edinburgh Napier University Pedagogic 香蕉视频 Group, Edinburgh
Jones-Devitt, S., & Austen, L. (2018). Challenging wicked problems and folk pedagogies to address the BME attainment gap in higher education. Presented at: Equality Challenge Unit Annual Conference, Birmingham
Austen, L., Pickering, N., Jones-Devitt, S., & Donnelly, A. (2018). Institutional considerations for learning gain projects and beyond. Presented at: National Learning Gain Conference, Birmingham
Austen, L. (2018). Variation and innovation in student voice research. Presented at: Student Voice Seminar Day, Bristol
Austen, L., & Malone, C. (2017). Exploring student perceptions of effective feedback. Presented at: Transforming Assessment (international webinar), Monash University
Parkin, H., & Austen, L. (2016). Digital Capability and Teaching Excellence. Presented at: 39th HeLF Meeting - Digital Skills and Scholarship, University College London
Austen, L., & Parkin, H. (2016). Digital Capability and Teaching Excellence. Presented at: JISC Student Experience Experts Group, Birmingham
Other publications
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2020). Staff Guide to Using Evidence in Higher Education. Quality Assurance Agency Scotland:
Austen, L., & Jones-Devitt, S. (2019). . Quality Assurance Agency Scotland:
Austen, L. (2018). Book Review: 'Teaching Excellence in Higher Education: Challenges, Changes and the Teaching Excellence Framework'. Higher Education Review:
Other activities
I am was the External Examiner for BA (Hons) Criminal Justice delivered at University College Doncaster and accredited by the University of Hull (2014-2018).
Postgraduate supervision
I am currently supervising a PhD candidate in the Sheffield Institute of Education. I also have experience as an external examiner and independent chair for viva examinations.
I have completed the 香蕉视频 Supervisors course which equates to1 completed PhD supervision, and I am able to contribute to PhD supervision with an additional Director of Studies.
Media
I have presented my work in keynotes, workshops, webinars and masterclasses.