Teaching & Learning
Purpose and Themes
The Teaching & Learning Special Interest Group (SIG) in Teaching and Learning (T&L) provides a dedicated forum for CAUTHE members to engage in dialogue, professional development, and scholarship to advance research and practical teaching strategies in tourism, hospitality, and events education. Responding proactively to the rapidly evolving higher education landscape worldwide, this T&L SIG emphasises innovation, inclusivity, and digital literacy in pedagogy, supporting members in enhancing their teaching practices alongside scholarly inquiry.
Current areas of focus and themes include:
- Curriculum innovation and development, including design, delivery, assessment, and enhancement of student experience.
- Student learning, addressing contemporary influences, educational practices, diverse pathways, and inclusive learning spaces.
- Impacts and implications of evolving higher education policies.
- Digital literacies and technology-enhanced teaching and learning strategies.
- Globalisation, internationalisation, and inclusive educational practices within higher education.
- Professional learning, work-integrated learning experiences, and industry engagement.
- Balancing liberal/social science education with vocational education imperatives.
- Exploring future directions in tourism, hospitality, and events education.
Key Outcomes for Members
The SIG connects educators passionate about improving their teaching practice and student learning outcomes. Members benefit from exchanging innovative teaching methods, participating in scholarly dialogue, accessing opportunities for publishing research and pedagogical case studies, and contributing to the ongoing development of educational scholarship and practical teaching excellence. The SIG regularly organises symposia, workshops, and professional development events, either independently or collaboratively with related organisations, furthering the teaching-focused practices and scholarly interests of CAUTHE members.
VIEW SIG Snapshot video Dr Niki Macionis
2025
- Meeting on Wednesday 12 February 16:00 – 17:30 (AEST) at the CAUTHE 2025 Conference. Download flyer. Hosted by SIG Co-chairs, Dr Anastasia (Yeark) Fomina, Dr Niki Macionis & Dr Aaron Tham with speakers:
- Chris Wong, KBS Hospitality & Tourism Facilitator, provided an update on the scenario generator, featuring destination videos created using GenAI.
- Elizabeth Dominguez, KBS Integrity Officer and Hospitality & Tourism Facilitator, focussed on inclusive pedagogy and how non-inclusive teaching practices, such as poorly designed curricula and assessments, can unintentionally alienate students, leading to disengagement and increasing the risk of academic misconduct. This presentation provided practical insights into the critical points of no return, where students often veer off course and explored how inclusive pedagogical strategies can address these challenges. Followed by an interactive Q&A segment and a social dinner evening.
Past Activities
2024
- Mid-year meeting on Friday 2 August 1:30-2:30pm Inclusive Teaching Practices.
- This professional development session focused on inclusive teaching practices for higher education educators committed to creating fair and supportive learning environments through their teaching methods. It covered practical strategies such as providing multiple ways for students to engage, presenting information in various formats, and offering diverse ways to demonstrate their understanding.
- VIEW Video recording | DOWNLOAD Inclusive Teaching Practices Presentation by Bozena Rupnik, MCCT Manager of Academic Success Centre, Kaplan Business School
- Meeting at CAUTHE 2024 Conference, Hobart at 16:00- 17:30 on Thursday 8 February. Anastasia Yeark presented Using GenAI in Assessment Design: Scenario Generator. A guide on how teachers can utilise GenAI to create an authentic assessment that incorporates decision tree logic. This showcase built on the recent TEQSA’s guidance on assessment reform in the higher education sector.
2023
- Mid-year panel discussion on Tourism, Hospitality and Events (THE) Education Futures. Thursday 27 July from 16:00 to 17:00 (AEST), online with speakers:
- Prof Johan Edelheim, Hokkaido University, Japan
- Dr Marcela Fang, William Angliss Institute, Melbourne.
- Ms Elise Lawrence, International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE) Download flyer
- Summer school course in Japan.Teaching Tourism: Values-based Transformative Learning Experiences by Johan Edelheim, Professor of Tourism & Media, Hokkaido University, Sapporo. 19-26 August 2023.
- Conference meeting, Redirecting and re-focusing teaching in Tourism, Hospitality and Events Education at the CAUTHE 2023 conference, Rydges Fremantle on 6 February, 5.00-6.00pm, followed by dinner at the Norfolk Hotel from 6pm. Download flyer.
2022
- Online Seminar on Wednesday 28 September at 11.00-12.00. What does teaching and learning look like in the wider Asia Pacific context? Three experienced academics will share their insights regarding curriculum, context, and complexities (following COVID-19), and what it means for teaching and learning across tourism, hospitality, and events education in other parts of Australasia. VIEW RECORDING P: E^w*vR2E
- The Mid-year meeting was held online on Thursday 28 July 2022 with the theme Teaching and Learning Strategising. Participants discussed the way forward with three new co-chairs and three new portfolios. Download Meeting notes.
- Call for contributions to Tourism Cases: Special Issue
- The annual meeting was held online on Friday 11 February. The theme of the meeting focussed on translating practice into publication. SIG Co-chair, Niki Macionis, extended gratitude and thanks to Mieke Wistel (SCU) and Tamara Young (UoN) as they stepped down from their leadership of the SIG over many years. Discussion about future activities for the SIG during 2022 and 2023 resulted in the identification of three themed areas to be lead by the new SIG Co-chairs:
- Sandra Cherro Osorio (Melbourne Polytechnic) – Talking about Teaching
- Anastasia Yeark (Kaplan Business School) – Cross-institutional ‘Practical Pointers’
- Aaron Tham (USC) – SoTL support and collaborative mentoring Download full meeting report.
2020
- Panel discussion at the CAUTHE 2020 Conference on Tourism education under attack! The New Zealand government and industry are investing in skills development and career pathways to raise the productivity and employment impacts of tourism. But the role of education in these initiatives is unclear, and there have been attacks on the relevance and quality of tourism education at secondary and tertiary levels.
- A discussion about the future of tourism education drawing on experiences in New Zealand of establishing the Tourism Educators Forum Aotearoa (TEFA) brought together educators from secondary schools, universities, polytechnics, secondary schools and private training providers and is a platform for, and a reference point between training and education educators and the New Zealand tourism industry and its representative bodies.
- The panel included founding TEFA members, inaugural Chair Karen Smith (Victoria University of Wellington), University sector representatives Megan Roberts (AUT) and Anthony Brien (Lincoln University) and Julie McDougall, HOD Travel and Tourism at Macleans College Auckland and Chair of the Tourism Teachers Association – New Zealand. Followed by dinner at The Paddock Elliott Stables.
- The SIG reviewed the Field of Research Codes – Tourism (1506) and Commercial services (1504) with an aim to put together a submission in time for the ANZSRC Review Consultation.
PRE-2020 TEACHING AND LEARNING SIG ACTIVITIES
SIG Co-ordinators
Dr Sandra Guisela Cherro Osorio
School of Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Melbourne Polytechnic
Ms Anastasia Yeark
Kaplan Business School
Dr Rawan Nimri
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