The QTU and education research
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 127 No 7, 30 September 2022, page no. 23
The Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) believes that education research should inform policy decisions and that educational change should be based on analysis of evidence derived from rigorous educational research, framed by an identifiable overarching educational philosophy.
The QTU has a proud history of partnering with education researchers whose work establishes demonstrable links to the QTU’s values and priorities. Therefore, the QTU welcomes research that makes advances in social equity, school funding, curriculum and pedagogy, teacher professionalism, education leadership, industrial matters, and a variety of other areas. The QTU also supports research that adopts methodological approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and critical research that can collect data from large scale populations or single-n studies.
We recognise that education and educational research are political acts and believe that all authors of education policy and education research should include the authors’ declaration of the purpose of education.
One think tank that regularly publishes reports on educational policy is the Grattan Institute, whose independent research aims to reshape and influence education policy decisions at a federal level. Grattan Institute researchers recently addressed QTU State Council on their report “Making time for great teaching: How better government policy can help”, a detailed overview of which can be found at https://www.qtu.asn.au/journal/queensland-teachers-journal-2022/queensland-teachers-journal-vol-127-no-2/making-time-great-teaching.
It is important to note that while the Grattan Institute provides a range of solutions to issues currently facing the teaching profession nationally, these need to be considered within the Queensland context and within the frame of EB10 and the proposed review of the allocative methodology.
The QTU also strongly believes that the status and dignity of the teaching profession are enhanced when the voices of teachers are heard in the field of education research. Therefore, the QTU also welcomes the contribution of our members and academic peers who engage in the field of higher degree research in education and related fields.
The QTU has a dedicated education research page at https://www.qtu.asn.au/member-groups/qtu-education-researchers that recognises some of our QTU members, alumni, research partners and projects. If you are a QTU member undertaking higher degree research that aligns with the values and beliefs of the QTU and would like to celebrate your work with us, please contact our Research Services team at services@qtu.asn.au
A great benefit of QTU membership is also having access to the QTU’s Lawrence Grulke Library, where leading and current publications on education research and policy can be found. Members can borrow up to three resources at any one time for a period of four weeks, and they are posted out free-of-charge (it is the responsibility of the member to pay for the return postage). QTU associate members can also access the collection at our Milton office.
The QTU has been a part of many research partnerships over the years. Some of these are listed on our website. If we missed a project partnership, please remind us. We’d love to celebrate the academic work of our teachers and researchers on our website.