Institutional Reporting SIG Discussion
8 May 2026 (12–1pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)
Online
LIVE WEBINAAIR
SIG Chairs:
- Don Johnston (Manager, Reporting and Analysis, Southern Cross University)
- David Cawthorne (Manager, Government Reporting Transformation, Charles Darwin University)
Join the Institutional Reporting Special Interest Group (SIG) for an interactive discussion on the current state of compliance and external reporting across the higher education sector.
This session provides an opportunity for members to connect, share experiences, and discuss the challenges and changes shaping institutional reporting in their organisations. From regulatory reporting requirements to evolving data standards and compliance expectations, institutional reporting continues to play a critical role in supporting quality, accountability and decision making.
Topics may include reporting frameworks such as TCSI, AVETMISS, HERDC, SDR, PBRF, EPI and other key compliance and external reporting requirements across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
This is an informal, peer-led session designed to encourage open conversation and practical knowledge sharing. Members are encouraged to bring examples, questions and current challenges from their own institutions to help shape the discussion.
Together, we will explore what is changing, what is working well, and where additional collaboration and support may be needed across the sector.
This is a valuable opportunity to strengthen professional connections, stay informed on sector developments, and learn from colleagues working in similar roles across Australasia.
What to expect
- discussion of current compliance and reporting challenges
- sector updates and shared experiences
- practical insights from peers across institutions
- opportunities to ask questions and exchange ideas
- stronger connections within the Institutional Reporting SIG
Pricing:
- Members: FREE
- Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)
THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.
Explorance BlueX: Simplified, Powerful Survey Software for Everyone
21 May 2026 (12–1pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)
Online
LIVE WEBINAAIR
- Presenter: Arjoman Chatterji, Senior Solutions Engineer at Explorance
- Facilitator: Cassandra Saunders, AAIR Executive Committee member, and Lecturer, Learning and Teaching at the University of Tasmania
How can survey creation be simple and accessible across your institution while maintaining governance controls, consistency, and data reliability?
Join this live session to explore how BlueX empowers institutional research teams with an intuitive free-form survey builder, allowing departments to build their own surveys while maintaining oversight of data standards.
We’ll explore confidentiality controls for sensitive data, governance structures for managing distributed survey work, and reusable widgets that bring insights directly into the survey experience.
About Arjoman
Having worked with institutions from all over the world looking at adopting and implementing analytics solutions, I have seen various trends and strategies adopted by institutions to improve higher education for the benefit of their students. My primary focus is to understand institutional needs and try and drive focus into data driven insights in both qualitative and quantitative data.
With a background in Computer Science, specialising in Business Information Systems and Machine Learning has helped me understand technical and practical applications of IT solutions with the constructive and social aspects of business needs.
Pricing:
- Members: FREE
- Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)
THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.
Institutional Research Showcase 2026
22 May 2026 (12–1pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)
Online
LIVE WEBINAAIR
Facilitator: Lester DSouza, Manager, Government Reporting at University of Technology Sydney
Student load planning from manual to automated process
Louise Branch-Smith, Senior Analyst, Student Load Planning at Murdoch University
This project is not simply a shift from Excel to Power BI, but a broader maturity journey in how student load planning decisions are made across the University. Rather than focusing on tool features for the new product, the emphasis is on progressively strengthening planning capability – from fragmented, manual processes to integrated, data-driven decision-making. By breaking the process into detailed requirements and test cases, we’ve created a structured foundation that reconnects previously siloed teams and standardises how planning is performed. This approach hopes to achieve a more collaborative, scalable, and ultimately predictive planning model that will evolve with institutional needs.
A flash of insight: The annual course review
Ilse Hogendorf, Manager Market Insights and Institutional Research at Charles Darwin University
This lightning talk shares the story of CDU’s Annual Course Review, from connecting and planning the data through to shaping the final report and socialising it across the university. It highlights practical approaches to turning complex information into clear, useful insights that support course quality and decision making.
Comparing educator and student perceptions of unacceptable and risk of harm comments in student evaluation of teaching surveys
Dr Sarah Dart, Strategic Lead – Learner Experience and Evaluation, Queensland University of Technology
This session examines how students and educators assess potentially ‘unacceptable’ and ‘risk of harm’ comments in the context of student surveys. It reports on preliminary findings of a research study that gathered data from structured focus groups with students and educators, where participants classified example comments and discussed their reasoning. The outcomes of statistical and thematic analysis are presented, with implications for institutional comment screening processes discussed.
Pricing:
- Members: FREE
- Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)
THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.
Why Rankings and Which One/s (Part 1)
28 May 2026 (12–1pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)
Online
LIVE WEBINAAIR
SIG Chairs:
- Elvira Fonacier, Head of Performance Evaluation at University of Technology Sydney
- Lin Jiang, Rankings Specialist at University of Technology Sydney
Global university rankings are widely referenced by students, partners, governments and funding bodies as indicators of reputation and performance – but why do most Australian universities participate in them, and how should these rankings be understood and used?
This session provides an opportunity to step back and examine why universities engage with rankings, which ranking systems matter in different contexts, and how results and methodologies are interpreted across the sector.
We will explore the purposes rankings serve, the differences between major global ranking systems, and the practical implications for data submissions, institutional benchmarking and performance analysis. Participants will gain insight into how rankings influence strategic decision making and how institutions can engage with them in a more informed and effective way.
Designed for both experienced practitioners and those new to rankings, this session encourages shared learning, open discussion, and practical understanding of rankings as part of institutional strategy and performance evaluation.
Whether your work involves reporting, planning, analytics or executive support, this session will help build confidence in interpreting rankings and understanding their role within the higher education landscape.
Pricing:
- Members: FREE
- Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)
THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.
AAIR Forum 2026
25–27 November 2026
Albany, New Zealand
The 2026 AAIR Forum will be hosted by Massey University at its stunning Albany campus in Auckland, New Zealand. Bringing together institutional research professionals from across Australasia, the Forum will offer valuable opportunities to connect, share insights and explore emerging trends in data, analytics and strategy in higher education. More details will be released soon—stay tuned for what promises to be an inspiring and collaborative event.
Registration Fees
Coming soon