School of Social and Political Science

Description

Career Development in Higher Education

A Universitas21 Social Work Community of Practice Online Webinar

As part of the ongoing activities of Social Work Community of Practice, we are organising an online webinar to share insights on Career Development in Higher Education. Drawing on personal journeys and institutional practices, the speakers will reflect on how contributions across teaching/learning, research/grant capture/publication, and leadership/citizenship shape a strong application for promotion. The webinar will share insights on:

• Navigating career development and progression in a busy academic environment
• Building networks – seminars, conferences, collaborative research, for example
• Making good use of opportunities – short sabbatical, writing workshops etc
• Preparing one’s application – allowing time for reflection, collation, editing, peer-reviewing
• Importance of articulating the impact of your contribution, not just evidence alone
• Developing one’s intellectual identity/project; what is one known for (particularly for promotion to professor/personal chair)
• Place of mentoring in career development
• Find out how others have developed their careers

In order to maximise participation across the time zones, there will be two sessions—one targeting colleagues in the western hemisphere (Eventbrite link 30 October 2025) and a second one for those in the eastern hemisphere (Eventbrite link 06 November 2025).

• Date: 6 November 2025
• Time: 07:00 – 08:30 hrs GMT (18:00 – 19.30 hrs Melbourne time)

Webinar Chair: Professor George Palattiyil, Personal Chair of Social Work and Refugee Studies, School of Social and Political Science, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

The webinar is open to U21 Social Work Community of Practice members and those collaborators they work with from other institutions.

Registered attendees will receive the Zoom link to the webinar nearer the time.

Our speaker for this session

Professor Lou Harms (BA, BSW, MSW, PhD)

Professor Lou Harms started her career as a hospital social worker, working in paediatric and then road trauma hospital contexts before working for several years in a University Counselling Service. She commenced her academic career as a casual staff member in thirty years ago, and is now a Professor and Chair in the Department of Social Work, as well as the Vice President of the University of Melbourne’s Academic Board. Her teaching and research career has followed her social work practice interests – resilience and recovery after trauma experiences (in health and post-disaster contexts). She has also developed interests in academic leadership and governance through her recent terms as Head of the Department of Social Work and on the University Council.

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/1408-louise-harms