Institutional Research Showcase 2026

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Facilitator: Lester DSouza, Manager, Government Reporting at University of Technology Sydney

Presenters:

• Louise Branch-Smith, Senior Analyst, Student Load Planning at Murdoch University

• Ilse Hogendorf, Manager Market Insights and Institutional Research at Charles Darwin University

• Dr Sarah Dart, Strategic Lead – Learner Experience and Evaluation at Queensland University of Technology

Student load planning from manual to automated process

Louise Branch-Smith, Senior Analyst, Student Load Planning at Murdoch University

This project is not simply a shift from Excel to Power BI, but a broader maturity journey in how student load planning decisions are made across the University. Rather than focusing on tool features for the new product, the emphasis is on progressively strengthening planning capability – from fragmented, manual processes to integrated, data-driven decision-making. By breaking the process into detailed requirements and test cases, we’ve created a structured foundation that reconnects previously siloed teams and standardises how planning is performed. This approach hopes to achieve a more collaborative, scalable, and ultimately predictive planning model that will evolve with institutional needs.

About Louise

Senior Analyst in Student Load Planning specialising in data-driven forecasting, enrolment modelling, and resource optimisation to align student load and demand with institutional reporting. Experienced in translating complex data into actionable insights that support strategic decision-making and enhance student outcomes.

A flash of insight: The annual course review

Ilse Hogendorf, Manager Market Insights and Institutional Research at Charles Darwin University

This lightning talk shares the story of CDU’s Annual Course Review, from connecting and planning the data through to shaping the final report and socialising it across the university. It highlights practical approaches to turning complex information into clear, useful insights that support course quality and decision making.

About Ilse

Ilse is the Manager, Market Insights and Institutional Research at Charles Darwin University (CDU). Over the past 4–5 years, she’s developed her expertise on the job – bringing together data, building reports, and turning complexity into something useful. Known for her precision (and a tendency to twitch at font inconsistencies), she prefers practical insights over polished jargon.

Comparing educator and student perceptions of unacceptable and risk of harm comments in student evaluation of teaching surveys

Dr Sarah Dart, Strategic Lead – Learner Experience and Evaluation, Queensland University of Technology

This session examines how students and educators assess potentially 'unacceptable' and 'risk of harm' comments in the context of student surveys. It reports on preliminary findings of a research study that gathered data from structured focus groups with students and educators, where participants classified example comments and discussed their reasoning. The outcomes of statistical and thematic analysis are presented, with implications for institutional comment screening processes discussed.

About Sarah

Sarah is a Senior Lecturer and the Strategic Lead for Learner Experience and Evaluation within QUT's Learning and Teaching Unit. In this role she oversees the institution's learning and teaching evaluation strategy including institutional surveys, national surveys, and evaluation of student success services.

Pricing:

• Members: FREE

• Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.