1. Current and future research at Excelsia College‘
Current and future research at Excelsia College
15th September 2015
MAR-T04, Issue 3, January 2015

2. What is our research base? Our research strengths based on our history
Overview of seminar
Why research?
What is our research base?
Our research strengths based on our history
Future research: the broad research plan
How we will implement the plan?
What this means for staff interested in research

3. Why research?
Mission Statement Excelsia is an academic community benefiting the world by producing research characterised by exemplary scholarship consistent with a Christian worldview, and graduates prepared to lead in a range of professions.

4. A core aspect of Excelsia’s mission because:
Why research (2) ?
A core aspect of Excelsia’s mission because:
Research and learning contribute to a better world
Research generates new knowledge that is useful in itself
Research-based knowledge is intrinsic to effective teaching and learning
Research-based knowledge is important for an informed, skilled workplace

5. Why research (3) ?
A core foundation of Excelsia’s AUC application as seen in how we plan to meet Australian Provider Category Standard 3. Standard 3 A vibrant research culture, led by research active senior staff, addressing niche, mission-oriented areas of research activity and interest.

6. What is our research base (last 5 years)?
Field of Education
Type of Publication
Permanent
Contract
Total
Creative Arts
Book 1
Book Chapter 5
Conference Paper 4 15 19
Creative Work 44 45
Journal Article 3 49 24 73

7. What is our research base (2)?
Field of Education
Type of Publication
Permanent
Contract
Total
Education
Book 2 1 3
Book Chapter 4 5
Conference Paper
Journal Article
Research Report 8 10 15 9 24

8. What is our research base (3)?
Field of Education
Type of Publication
Permanent
Contract
Total
Management and Commerce
Book 6
Book Chapter 9
Conference Paper 46
Journal Article 3 23 26
Research Report 2 86 89

9. What is our research base (4)?
Field of Education
Type of Publication
Permanent
Contract
Total
Society and Culture
Book 7
Book Chapter 17 8 25
Conference Paper 26 15 41
Journal Article 16 5 21
Research Report 2
Thesis 1 69 28 97

10. What is our research base (5)?
Field of Education
Type of Publication
Permanent
Contract
Total
All Fields
Book 10 7 17
Book Chapter 21 23 44
Conference Paper 31 78
109
Creative Work 1 45
Journal Article 19 34 53
Research Report 4 14
Thesis
136
147
283

11. Examples of research outputs
Author 1
Author 2
Pub. Type
Year
Title
Atkins, P
Schubert, E
Journal
2014
Are spiritual experiences through music seen as intrinsic or extrinsic?
Carne, J
Carne, R
Creative work
Midsummer Night's Dream
Davis, P
Refereed Conf. Paper
When Preaching goes Peer-Shaped: An Exploration of the Place of Peer Learning in Homiletic Education
Dowson, M
Dowson, B
Research Report
2015
Student Feedback Report 2013 Semester Semester 2
Miner, M
Book
2012
Beyond Well-being: Spirituality and Human Flourishing
Pretorius, H
McQueen, H
2013
Much Ado About Nothing
Proctor, M-T
2010
Exploring Christians’ explicit attachment to God representations: The development of a template for assessing ATG experiences
Stephens, M
Creative God, Creative Church

12. Our research strengths
Interdisciplinary: e.g., social sciences and theology, creative arts and education, creative arts & theology
Collaborative: staff & staff, staff & student
Networked with external researchers (e.g., NCLS Research)
Potential for collaboration with IWU

13. Future research: The research plan
The Excelsia Research Plan states that the College seeks:
to become a recognised centre of research
in priority areas
that complement existing research programs in Australian Universities and, in so doing,
establish a unique research profile
capable of attracting substantial peer-recognition, sustained staff and student interest and
regular external funding

14. Initial research programs for excelsia college & IWU
Broad Focus of Research
Christian spirituality and human well- being across the lifespan
Education and holistic human development
Christian leadership in culture and organisations
Theology, spirituality, creativity and innovation
Primary Discipline Areas
Counselling, Nursing, Education
Leadership, Business, Management, Creative and Performing Arts
Supporting Disciplinary Areas
Philosophy, Theology
Theology, Cultural Studies

15. Initial research programs for excelsia college & IWU (2)
Broad Focus of Research
Christian spirituality and human well-being across the lifespan
Education and holistic human development
Christian leadership in culture and organisations
Theology, spirituality, creativity and innovation
Research Themes
Inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches to the study of spirituality and education and their impacts on human development and well-being
Antecedents of holistic human development and sustained well-being, including Attachment to God, education, and the integrated development of the self
Maintaining psycho-spiritual well-being throughout life, including barriers to psycho-spiritual well-being
Integrating Christian spirituality in teaching and practice in the behavioral sciences, health care and education
Inter-disciplinary and trans- disciplinary approaches to the study of leadership, creativity and innovation and their impacts on culture and organizations
Ethical and sustainable organizations and organizational leadership, including leadership and organizational heath in the church
Theology and spirituality in the arts, culture and the public space
Integrating Christian spirituality within the teaching and practice of management and commerce, and the creative/ performing arts

16. Initial research programs for excelsia college & IWU (3)
In the future, other collaborative research programs will be added in areas such as:
sciences,
language,
literature,
religious studies etc.

17. Immediate edited book project: Teaching, Learning and Spirituality in the Creative Arts
Author
Chapter title
Maureen Miner
Creativity & Spirituality in higher education: The case for inclusion
Martin Dowson
Creative thought in art, science and religion
Nicola Hoggard Creegan
Creativity and transcendence
Stuart Devenish
Faithful Imagination: the spiritual life and the creative process
Julie Crabtree
Understanding the Creative Artist – exploring spirituality as a possible protective factor for the highly creative
Mark Seton
Creativity in performance training
Marie Therese Proctor
‘The Lively Self’: The contribution of the psychotherapeutic process to
the development of the artistic sense of self
Ros Riley
The creation of a passion play in 21st century Australia
Creativity & spirituality integration in higher education

18. How we will implement the Research Plan? (1) research framework
Outcomes
• HDR Completions
• Peer-Refereed Pubications
• Successful Research Grant Applications
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Active Research Partnerships
Research Documents
• Research Plan
• Research Code of Practice
• Research Policies and Procedures
Research Staff
• Director of Research
• Principal Researchers
• IWU Research Fellows
• HDR Supervisors
• IWU HDR Co-Supervisors
Research Resources
• Research Budgets
• Library and Information Services
• Research Training and Supervision
• Research Infrastructure
Research Governance
• Research Committee
• Human Research Ethics Committee
• HDR Course Standing Committee
• Research Grants Committee
Research Degrees
• Master of Business (Research)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Organisational Leadership)

19. How we will implement the Research Plan (2)?
By developing research centres to oversee the research program
By building up research resources (human & material)
Initially with research allocations in staff workloads, small internal research grants
By aiming to publish outputs of staff-student collaborations (research as part of student degrees)

20. What does this mean for staff?
Opportunities to:
include research as part of academic work
be more intentional and systematic in evaluating teaching and learning
grow personally through studies of Christian faith in relation to life and work
give and receive support for research within research centres
research as part of a team sharing a Christian vision