Scholarly Practice Program

Scholarship at the Institute is understood as the practices associated with taking a planned, rigorous and reflective approach to investigating an aspect of learning, teaching, vocational or professional practice, and using the results to inform learning and teaching. 

The Institute has adopted a framework for scholarly practice that sets out this understanding of how scholarship is practised across vocational and higher education. It guides the work of staff and students.

Scholarship vs applied research

For staff, scholarly practice is primarily associated with the maintenance of the currency of teaching, vocational or professional skills. These currency activities take the form of an investigative study into an identified area of new or emerging industry or pedagogical practice that is relevant to the individual or team's teaching area.

Such an inquiry may well use some of the processes of applied research. However, since the ultimate goal is to inform improvements in learning and teaching practice, this would be understood as scholarly practice in the form of the scholarship of learning and teaching.

Thus, while there may be overlap in the processes used in scholarly practice and applied research, the two are primarily demarcated at William Angliss Institute according to whether the focus and ultimate goal is to contribute to the body of knowledge and/or professional practice in the foods, hospitality, tourism and events fields in the case of applied research – or curriculum and pedagogy in the case of scholarly practice.

From 2019 all teaching and academic staff will be expected to undertake scholarly practice. They are provided with mentor support and a program of awards recognises and rewards their scholarly work.

Students and scholarly practice

While most higher education students already engage in significant aspects of scholarly practice in the normal course of their studies, the Institute is progressively introducing elements of scholarly practice into vocational programs. Informed by the Framework for Scholarly Practice, a key goal is to develop reflective practice, including enhancing the students' awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as a learner.

Further information about the William Angliss Institute Scholarly Practice Program can be obtained by contacting Associate Professor Melanie Williams, Associate Dean (Scholarship) at scholarlypractice@angliss.edu.au.