Metadata
Title
Lydia Kavanagh
Category
general
UUID
a09936655c4f42aeb68240fced86994c
Source URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/579
Parent URL
https://about.uq.edu.au/leadership-governance/vice-chancellor-and-president
Crawl Time
2026-03-11T07:14:09+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Lydia Kavanagh

**Source**: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/579
**Parent**: https://about.uq.edu.au/leadership-governance/vice-chancellor-and-president

Professor

# Lydia Kavanagh

Email:
:   [l.kavanagh@uq.edu.au](mailto:l.kavanagh@uq.edu.au)

Phone:
:   [+61 7 336 51320](tel:+61 7 336 51320)

Mobile:
:   [0421 503 191](tel:0421 503 191)

## Positions

President of the Academic Board
:   Office of the Vice-Chancellor

## Overview

### Background

Since returning to academia from industry in 1998, Professor Lydia Kavanagh has become a leader in engineering education and has used her background as a professional engineer to design both curricula and courses for active learning by combining real-world projects and specialist knowledge. She has had a significant impact on the delivery of UQ’s undergraduate engineering program through creative new teaching pedagogies including the Flipped Classroom, innovative authentic approaches to assessment, and the introduction of multi-disciplinary courses. As Director of First Year Engineering for almost a decade, Lydia was responsible for a significant program of extra-curricular transition support for first year students and she co-coordinated two compulsory courses that delivered what could arguably be the world's largest flipped classroom for 600 students. Recently, she has set up a Leadership and Mentoring Program for all EAIT faculty students (undergraduate and postgraduates), and continued this into a Leaders@EAIT, an ongoing academy for these students to continue to develop leadership competencies.

Lydia is now the Deputy Associate Dean Academic (Curriculum Review and Teaching Innovation) for the Faculty of Science where she has overseen a faculty-wide overview of curriculum resulting in streamlined undergraduate and postgraduate offerings. She holds a concurrent fractional position with the Institute of Teaching and Learning Innovations, where she has developed frameworks and systems for UQ shorter form credentials.

Lydia is also heavily involved institutionally with training and mentoring academics and professional staff with teaching responsibilities through the development and implementation of the Graduate Teaching Assistant program (for PhD scholars and postdocs), Teaching@UQ (for staff new to teaching), and TeachingPlus@UQ (for emerging leaders in Teaching and Learning).

Lydia’s work was recognised with a Principal Fellowship of the HEA, an ALTC Excellence in teaching award in 2011 and she has lead and participated in Carrick/ ALTC/ OLT projects on teamwork, online learning, curriculum innovation (2x), preparing students for first year engineering, and Flipped Classrooms.

Read more
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### Availability

Professor Lydia Kavanagh is:
:   Available for supervision
:   Media expert

### Fields of research

[Curriculum and pedagogy](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4961)
[Education](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4762)
[Engineering](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4758)
[Engineering practice](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6197)
[Environmental engineering](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=4793)
[Wastewater treatment processes](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/search?research-field=6042)

### Qualifications

- Bachelor of Engineering, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Engineering, University of New South Wales
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education, The University of Queensland

### Research interests

- #### Higher education

  o STEM practices in higher education
  o Curriculum development including learning pathways
  o eLearning: delivery, assessment, engagement, innovation
  o Flipping the classroom including ownership of learning
  o Supporting international students
  o Developing leadership competencies in students
  o Investigating student team work and mentoring
  o Fostering interdisciplinarity

  Read more
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- #### Professional Development

  o Dissemination of best practice teaching and learning
  o Mentoring
  o Training the next generation of educators
  o Fostering leadership in teaching and learning

  Read more
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- #### Unbundling degree programs

  o Shorter form credentials
  o MOOCs
  o Badges

  Read more
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### Research impacts

Lydia has delivered Flipped Classroom workshops across discipline and to both national and international institutions. The workshops have helped take the mystery out of flipping the classroom and have given academics a framework for developing their own flipped classroom. Her book, 'The Flipped Classroom: Practice and Practices' has been downloaded more than 55,000 times.

Much of her work in developing online tools (e.g Teamwork in Action - a module providing team training and resources, GetSet - a prepatory quiz for first year engineering, WebPAf - an adapted peer assessment tool originating from The University of Loughborough, BrainCloud - a real time crowd response 'wordle') has also been freely disseminated across institution and across discipline.

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## Works

[Search Professor Lydia Kavanagh’s works on UQ eSpace](http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/list/author_id/1012)

[All
(93)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/579/all)
[Book
(3)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/579/4747)
[Journal Article
(11)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/579/4748)
[Other Outputs
(9)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/579/4749)
[Conference Publication
(64)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/579/4751)
[Book Chapter
(6)](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts-publication/579/4752)

Featured

2014

Book Chapter

##### Simulating work: can simulators help develop a workforce?

Kavanagh, Lydia, Jolly, Lesley, O'Moore, Liza and Tibbits, Gregory (2014). Simulating work: can simulators help develop a workforce?. Workforce Development: Perspectives and Issues. (pp. 283-299) edited by Roger Harris and Tom Short. New York, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-4560-58-0\_16

[Simulating work: can simulators help develop a workforce?](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:321748)

Featured

2014

Conference Publication

##### Flipping the classroom at scale to achieve integration of theory and practice in a first year engineering design and build course

Reidsema, Carl A., Kavanagh, Lydia and Jolly, Lesley (2014). Flipping the classroom at scale to achieve integration of theory and practice in a first year engineering design and build course. 121st ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: 360 Degrees of Engineering Education, Indianapolis, IN United States, 15-18 June 2014. Washigton, DC United States: American Society for Engineering Education. doi: 10.18260/1-2--20509

[Flipping the classroom at scale to achieve integration of theory and practice in a first year engineering design and build course](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:336953)

2014

Journal Article

##### Technology supported facilitation and assessment of small group collaborative inquiry learning in large first-year classes

Lawrie, Gwendolyn A., Gahan, Lawrence R., Matthews, Kelly E., Weaver, Gabriela C., Bailey, Chantel, Adams, Peter, Kavanagh, Lydia, Long, Phillip D. and Taylor, Matthew (2014). Technology supported facilitation and assessment of small group collaborative inquiry learning in large first-year classes. Journal of Learning Design, 7 (2), 120-135. doi: 10.5204/jld.v7i2.204

[Technology supported facilitation and assessment of small group collaborative inquiry learning in large first-year classes](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:339919)

Featured

2013

Conference Publication

##### Identification of issues faced by international students in first year project-based engineering classes

Chen, Shaun and Kavanagh, Lydia (2013). Identification of issues faced by international students in first year project-based engineering classes. AAEE 2013: 24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 8-11 December, 2013. Nathan, QLD, Australia: Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University.

[Identification of issues faced by international students in first year project-based engineering classes](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:326088)

Featured

2012

Conference Publication

##### The Teaching and Learning Development Program: an opportunity to excel?

Kavanagh, Lydia, O'Moore, Liza, Papinczak, Tracey, Reidsema, Carl and Crosthwaite, Caroline (2012). The Teaching and Learning Development Program: an opportunity to excel?. 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2012), Melbourne, Australia, 3 - 5 December 2012. Melbourne, Australia: Swinburne University of Technology.

[The Teaching and Learning Development Program: an opportunity to excel?](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:294938)

Featured

2012

Conference Publication

##### Mad as hell and not taking it any more?: job satisfaction amongst engineering educators in Australian universities

Kavanagh, Lydia, O'Moore, Liza and Jolly, Lesley (2012). Mad as hell and not taking it any more?: job satisfaction amongst engineering educators in Australian universities. 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2012), Melbourne, Australia, 3 - 5 December 2012. Melbourne, Australia: Swinburne University of Technology.

[Mad as hell and not taking it any more?: job satisfaction amongst engineering educators in Australian universities](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:294931)

2024

Journal Article

##### Student Led Observations for Course Improvement (SLOCI) : closing the loop in course enhancement

McAnally, Shaun, Buczynski, Julia and Kavanagh, Lydia (2024). Student Led Observations for Course Improvement (SLOCI) : closing the loop in course enhancement. International Journal for Students as Partners, 8 (2), 95-106. doi: 10.15173/ijsap.v8i2.5578

[Student Led Observations for Course Improvement (SLOCI) : closing the loop in course enhancement](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:c52180f)

2023

Other Outputs

##### Utilising the classification of assessments

McGrath, Dom, Slade, Christine and Kavanagh, Lydia (2023, 04 01). Utilising the classification of assessments HERDSA Connect Vol 45 No.1 Autumn 2023 25-25.

[Utilising the classification of assessments](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:a9f88c8)

2022

Other Outputs

##### Assessment for academic integrity: white paper

Kavanagh, Lydia, Slade, Christine and McGrath, Dom (2022). Assessment for academic integrity: white paper. The University of Queensland.

[Assessment for academic integrity: white paper](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:f9c089a)

2022

Conference Publication

##### Negotiating the classification of assessment tasks

McGrath, Dom, Slade, Christine and Kavanagh, Lydia (2022). Negotiating the classification of assessment tasks. HERDSA Annual Conference 2022, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 27 - 30 June 2022.

[Negotiating the classification of assessment tasks](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:bb271a2)

2021

Conference Publication

##### Inclusion panel discussion: inclusive teaching and learning practices, and the impact of intersectionality

Willox, Dino, Langton, Marcia, Kavanagh, Lydia, Bunda, Tracey, Harpur, Paul, Dianati, Seb and Blanch, Elias (2021). Inclusion panel discussion: inclusive teaching and learning practices, and the impact of intersectionality. Teaching and Learning Week, University of Queensland, November 1-5.

[Inclusion panel discussion: inclusive teaching and learning practices, and the impact of intersectionality](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:1483fc2)

2018

Conference Publication

##### Students as partners: developing a dialogue for change

Fleming, Melanie, Kavanagh, Lydia, Reidsema, Carl, Waris, Ahsin, Lee, Misha, Liu, Siyu and Kara-Manning, Ruben (2018). Students as partners: developing a dialogue for change. 29th Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Hamilton, New Zealand, 9-12 December 2018. The University of Waikato:

[Students as partners: developing a dialogue for change](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:733998)

2018

Conference Publication

##### Factors that influence peer learning in social media enhanced engineering courses

Dokhanchi, Mohsen, Kavanagh, Lydia and Reidsema, Carl (2018). Factors that influence peer learning in social media enhanced engineering courses. 29th Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Hamilton, New Zealand, 9-12 December 2018. The University of Waikato:

[Factors that influence peer learning in social media enhanced engineering courses](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:734000)

2017

Book Chapter

##### Technology in the flipped classroom

McGrath, Dominic, Groessler, Anthea, Fink, Esther, Reidsema, Carl and Kavanagh, Lydia (2017). Technology in the flipped classroom. The flipped classroom: practice and practices in higher education. (pp. 37-56) edited by Carl Reidsema, Lydia Kavanagh, Roger Hadgraft and Neville Smith. Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-3413-8\_3

[Technology in the flipped classroom](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:0e78492)

2017

Conference Publication

##### Analysing the learning pathways of students in a large flipped engineering course

Reidsema, Carl, Kavanagh, Lydia, Fink, Esther M., Khosravi, Hassan, Fleming, Melanie and Achilles, Nicholas (2017). Analysing the learning pathways of students in a large flipped engineering course. ASCILITE2017: 34th International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in the Use of Educational Technologies in Tertiary Education., Toowoomba, QLD, Australia, 4 - 6 December 2017. Darling Heights, QLD, Australia: University of Southern Queensland.

[Analysing the learning pathways of students in a large flipped engineering course](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:705838)

2017

Book Chapter

##### Design considerations

Kavanagh, Lydia, Reidsema, Carl, McCredden, Julie and Smith, Neville (2017). Design considerations. The flipped classroom: practice and practices in higher education. (pp. 15-35) edited by Carl Reidsema, Lydia Kavanagh, Roger Hadgraft and Neville Smith. Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-3413-8\_2

[Design considerations](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:489915)

2017

Book

##### The flipped classroom: practice and practices in higher education

Carl Reidsema, Lydia Kavanagh, Roger Hadgraft and Neville Smith eds. (2017). The flipped classroom: practice and practices in higher education. Singapore: Springer Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-3413-8

[The flipped classroom: practice and practices in higher education](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:489857)

2016

Conference Publication

##### Pedagogical differences in engineering education at Taiwanese and Australian universities

Chen, Shaun and Kavanagh, Lydia (2016). Pedagogical differences in engineering education at Taiwanese and Australian universities. 27th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia, 4-7 December 2016.

[Pedagogical differences in engineering education at Taiwanese and Australian universities](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:415804)

2016

Conference Publication

##### Pedagogical differences in Engineering Education at Taiwanese and Australian universities

Chen, Shaun and Kavanagh, Lydia (2016). Pedagogical differences in Engineering Education at Taiwanese and Australian universities. Australasain Assoication for Engineering Education (AAEE2016), Coffs Harbour, Australia, 4-7 December 2016.

[Pedagogical differences in Engineering Education at Taiwanese and Australian universities](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:418085)

2016

Conference Publication

##### Teaching induction program evaluation: a research intensive institution perspective

Dearden, Ellen, Duck, Julie M., Matthews, Kelly, Kavanagh, Lydia, Dominic McGrath, Adams, Peter and Simbag, Vilma (2016). Teaching induction program evaluation: a research intensive institution perspective. Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Conference, Fremantle, WA, Australia, 4-7 July, 2016.

[Teaching induction program evaluation: a research intensive institution perspective](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:394326)

## Funding

### Past funding

- 2017 - 2018

  TeamAnneal Stage Two: A Web Service for Purposeful Student Team Creation

  UQ Teaching Innovation Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/44479)
- 2016 - 2017

  Supporting staff and students with HFA in STEM programs

  CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism CRC Limited)

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/28598)
- 2015 - 2016

  Help! A Blackboard-linked quality assured student communication and response system

  Technology-Enhanced Learning Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/44070)
- 2015 - 2016

  The Teaching @UQ Program

  Technology-Enhanced Learning Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/45084)
- 2013 - 2016

  The STEM Ecosystem: building cross-disciplinary leadership capacity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

  OLT Innovation and Development Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/23958)
- 2013 - 2015

  Radical transformation: Re-imagining engineering education through flipping the classroom in a global learning partnership

  OLT Innovation and Development Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/17345)
- 2012 - 2013

  Get set for success: Using online self-assessments to motivate first year engineering students to engage in and manage their learning

  University of Southern Queensland

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/14582)
- 2011 - 2013

  Get set for success: using online self-assessments to motivate first year engineering students to engage in and manage their learning

  ALTC Innovation and Development Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/17298)
- 2010 - 2011

  Curriculum Renewal in Engineering Through Theory-Driven Evaluation

  ALTC Priority Projects

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/16789)
- 2010 - 2012

  Preparing for First Year - Developing Support Strategies

  UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/45606)
- 2009 - 2010

  IS-IT learning? Online interdisciplinary scenario-inquiry tasks for active learning in large, first year STEM courses

  ALTC Competitive Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/16776)
- 2009 - 2010

  Learning to teach online: developing high-quality video and text resources to help educators teach online

  ALTC Competitive Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/16784)
- 2009 - 2013

  Evaluation of simulators in train driver training

  CRC for Rail Innovation

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/11287)
- 2009 - 2010

  National Competence Assurance for Train Drivers

  CRC for Railway Engineering and Technologies

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/11313)
- 2008 - 2010

  First Year Engineering Competency Testing -Addressing the changing Cohort

  UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/46657)
- 2008

  Scoping current practices in driver performance monitoring and feedback (Driver Performance Courses Preliminary)

  CRC for Railway Engineering and Technologies

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/10252)
- 2007 - 2008

  Developing and disseminating TEAM SKILLS capacities using interactive online tools for team formation, learning,assessment and mentoring

  Carrick Competitive Grants

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/16748)
- 2006 - 2008

  Modelling socially sustainable practice in master planned communities: A tool for designers and other stakeholders

  UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund

  [Open grant](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/project/43727)

View all 18 past funded projects
View less

## Supervision

### Availability

Professor Lydia Kavanagh is:
:   Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on [how to choose a supervisor](https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/how-to-choose-a-supervisor).

### Supervision history

#### Completed supervision

- 2023

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Developing and Implementing an Effective Peer Learning Framework in Online Learning Communities](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:3da0881)

  Principal Advisor
- 2021

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Maximising the Success of International Students in First Year Engineering](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:55f7bfb)

  Principal Advisor
- 2013

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Simulators derailed: Technology compatibility and social systems](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:319402)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Associate Professor Liza O'Moore](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/710)
- 2011

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### Realistic Analysis of Socio-Technical Interventions in the Context of Urban Water Management

  Principal Advisor
- 2010

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Advancing sustainability in tourism destinations with a complex adaptive systems approach based on system dynamics modelling](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:197009)

  Principal Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Emeritus Professor D Lockington](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/377)
- 2017

  Master Philosophy

  ##### [Exploring The Development Of Student Ownership Of Learning Within Large Project-Based First-Year Engineering Courses](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:600267)

  Associate Advisor
- 2015

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Maximising Stakeholders¿ Benefits of Work Integrated Learning Programs: Schools of Chemical Engineering](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:363302)

  Associate Advisor

  Other advisors:
  [Dr Tony Howes](https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/346)
- 2008

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [A Complex Systems Approach to Engineering Competence](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:159310)

  Associate Advisor
- 2008

  Doctor Philosophy

  ##### [Characterising and Removing Dissolved Organic Nitrogen and Colour from Wastewater Containing Melanoidin](https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:155566)

  Associate Advisor

View all 9 completed supervisions
View less

## Media

### Enquiries

Contact Professor Lydia Kavanagh directly for media enquiries about:

- active learning
- competency testing
- eLearning
- Engineering education
- First year engineering
- Flipped classroom
- learning pathway
- Teamwork
- transition to university

#### Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

[communications@uq.edu.au](mailto:communications@uq.edu.au)

## External profiles

- [ORCID](https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0379-1648)
- [ResearcherID](https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/G-2095-2018)
- [Scopus](https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=18437274800)

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