Networks
The ABDC International Network is a forum for sharing ideas and knowledge about what constitutes good practice in the areas of international recruitment, mobility, research and teaching and learning.
The network meets at least twice a year.
In the videos below, Network Chair, Professor Leona Tam, describes the Network’s value, activities and challenges.
Job makers
Digital Crew
Digital Crew, an international digital marketing agency, is part of the our series of business school international graduates who have created businesses and jobs in Australia.
Our international graduates create new businesses
Mo Works and Hatchquarter
As part of the ABDC series about international graduates who have created businesses and jobs in Australia, is this profile of the international digital agency, Mo Works, and the incubator, Hatch Quarter.
Business faculties and schools, like the universities in which they are located, face ongoing funding uncertainty; increasing staff casualisation; disruptive technology; the continuous need for increased efficiency measures; and changing business models, policies and regulations – challenges that make the work of professional services or resource management teams ever more critical and complex.
The Professional Managers’ Network aims to support members by:
- Supporting ABDC’s advocacy in influencing higher education public policy and practice on network relevant issues affecting business education. This involves monitoring developments, drafting documents and providing advice to ABDC on issues, international trends, and best practice.
- Promoting professional capabilities development through sharing knowledge on current issues and best practice, and providing an engaged collegial network of support.
- Facilitating a national, collaborative and strategic approach to systemic change that pursues excellence in business faculties, colleges, and schools across Australia (in areas relevant to the network).
Network membership comprises of those in the most senior general, operational or professional resource management role in ABDC business faculties, colleges or schools.
In the videos below, chair Madelaine Sandall explains the role of the network and the current challenges it faces.
The Business Academic Research Directors’ Network (BARDsNet) provides Australian and New Zealand Associate Deans Research a forum to:
- Share knowledge, information and practices related to business school research.
- Take on meaningful projects that tackle contemporary research challenges facing business schools.
- Provide commentary on government research policy and related activities.
- Identify collaborative ways of working together as business academic research directors across Australia and New Zealand.
BARDsNet plays a key role in overseeing the development and review of the ABDC Journal Quality List that is used by business schools in Australia and overseas. The 2025 review of the list is currently underway.
BARDsNet membership comprises business school or faculty research directors, deans or associate deans (research) in Australia and New Zealand. ABDC member deans must endorse Australian BARDsNet nominations.
Network chair Professor Tracy Taylor describes the BARDsNet’s role and the importance of business research in the video below.
The Learning and Teaching Network comprises associate deans, deputy deans, and coordinators who are responsible for learning and teaching in our member business schools.
Network functions and presentations provide opportunities for professional development and the sharing of resources and ideas about good learning and teaching practice.
Network members meet face-to-face twice each year. They have focused recently on academic standards; benchmarking; quality assurance; accreditation; and strategies for encouraging, measuring and rewarding good teaching.
Network members play a key strategic role in enabling a national, collaborative approach to systemic change, which will improve learning and teaching in Australian business higher education.
The Network leads ABDC responses to important learning and teaching pronouncements by major higher education regulatory bodies like the Higher Education Standards Panel, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and the Office for Learning and Teaching. Network members, who often collaborate on projects, have been particularly successful in receiving national grants and engaging professional employer bodies to work with them.
Since the Learning and Teaching Network was established in 2004, grants from the former Office for Learning and Teaching and its predecessor have supported initiatives, which have included a distinguished visiting scholars program and the development of academic standards across many business disciplines: