Professor Thomas Roche
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Southern Cross University,
is a NEAS Quality Endorsed Centre. 
Bio
I am a specialist in the design, delivery and management of higher education programs – empowering students from diverse backgrounds gain access to and succeed in study. I have significant teaching, design and management experience in higher education in Australia, Germany, and the Sultanate of Oman.
As Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality) I lead the University’s strategic education quality initiatives, driving continuous improvement of our programs. I co-lead the University’s innovative Southern Cross Model, a whole-of-institution transformation delivering better student learning outcomes through immersive block learning. I lead the development of institutional Academic Integrity, and Scholarship of Learning and Teaching Frameworks.
As Dean, SCU College (Pathways: Enabling, Diploma and Direct Entry ELICOS) I lead pathway and academic literacy development at Southern Cross University. The College provides University admission to students who are either novice, international or students from identified equity groups (e.g. low SES, regional/remote). I ensure our pathways deliver an inspired experience supporting students reach their potential.
My primary research interests are in Higher Education Teaching and Learning (e.g. HE curriculum design, immersive block models, HE pathways, non-traditional students in HE); Applied Linguistics (focusing largely on Additional Language (L2) Assessment, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), University Direct Entry pathway programs, and Academic Literacies – including digital literacy).
In 2018-2019, I co-lead the University English Centres Australia (UECA) national initiative with a team of 60 assessors across 20 Australian universities benchmarking ELICOS program outcomes using the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
Memberships: Australian Government’s TEQSA Register of Experts; University English Centres Australia (UECA) Committee member; Higher Education Research & Development (HERD) – College of Reviewers member; Student Success Journal. Inaugural Editorial Board member.
In this session Professor Thomas Roche will explore the importance of academic integrity in ELT and strategies for upholding it while redefining excellence.
Contact Professor Thomas Roche
Email: thomroche@yahoo.com
