Professor Alistair McCulloch

I have been at UniSA (and in Australia) for over a decade, having previously been Professor and Dean of Research and Knowledge Transfer at Edge Hill University (near Liverpool in the UK) for over 12 years. During my time at Edge Hill, I was responsible for the quality and development of the University’s research degree programs and for preparing the institution for an application for the power to award its own research degrees, powers which were granted in 2008. I was also responsible for institutional research policy and its implementation, and also for the University's submissions to the periodic Research Assessment Exercises through the period to 2008.

To see my Google Scholar profile, click here.

My interest in doctoral education and supervision in particular is long-standing. In 1999, I developed at Edge Hill the UK’s first Masters-level qualification in research degree supervision (a PG Cert in Research Degree Supervision), and also led the development in 2006 of an MA in Academic Practice designed to provide accredited training for both doctoral students and also academic staff. Whilst at Edge Hill, I was engaged in the national debates over the development of British doctoral education being a member of the group that in 2004 revised the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency) Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degree Programmes. I was also a member of the Executive Committee of the UK Council for Graduate Education (UKCGE) between 2004 - 2009 and a joint-coordinator of the Society for Research into Higher Education’s (SRHE) Postgraduate Issues Network (PIN) over the same period.

How did I get here? Born in Scotland, I have lived and worked the length and breadth of the UK following entry to higher education as a mature undergraduate in 1976. My first degree in Politics and History was undertaken at what was then Huddersfield Polytechnic and this was followed by a period at Exeter University where I gained a PhD in Politics. During this time, I took all the detours that research students follow including acting (unpaid) as in-house political commentator and psephologist for the local radio station, Devonair Radio. My next stop was back at Huddersfield where I worked as a Research Assistant and part-time lecturer before, in 1987, taking my first permanent post as a Lecturer in Public Administration at what was then the Robert Gordon Institute of Technology (RGIT) in Aberdeen, Scotland. In 1997, having become Professor in Public Administration, I left what was by then the Robert Gordon University to take up my Dean's post at Edge Hill.

In Australia, I continue to work in the area of doctoral education and have had the pleasure and privilege of leading the organisation of and convening the 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 Quality in Postgraduate Research (QPR) conferences.

In 2017, I was awarded a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning as part of the Australian Awards for University Teaching. The award was won jointly with my colleague Dr Cassie Loeser and the citation reads: 'For a sustained and outstanding contribution to research degree supervisor development and the development of a method for measuring the impact of supervisor professional development.' This followed the award in 2016 of a UniSA Citation for making an 'Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning'. In both cases, the 'students' being referred to are academic staff members engaged in supervising doctoral students.

Away from work, my interests lie in the areas of reading and good music. I have occasionally been known to suggest that, with a few notable exceptions, they stopped making really good music at 23.59pm on 31st December 1969. Sometimes when I'm listening, I actually believe it!

Qualifications

• Doctor in Politics Exeter University, UK

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Humanities Huddersfield Polytechnic, UK