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The literature review summarises research and other materials that examine issues surrounding the employment, training and management of sessional teaching staff in universities. The review also cites descriptive papers and case studies in the literature that identify or describe ways in which sessional teachers can be supported and integrated into the university community. The review consists of around 6000 words and contains 30 references.

As part of the project, surveys were distributed to Heads of Schools, Directors of Studies, Course Convenors and Sessional Teachers around Australia. Around 40% of surveys were returned from 10 different Australian universities. This report summarises and categorises the common issues and problems that were identified, including the need for standardised practice in the employment of sessional teachers, more relevant policies and guidelines, improved training and professional development and increased recognition and appreciation for good work.

This page aggregates and provides brief descriptions of external web links that have been identified by the project team as excellent resources for any persons involved in the selection, training or management of sessional teaching staff. It also contains links that may be of use to sessional teachers themselves.

General Links

This paper by Sally Kift from the Law Faculty at the Queensland University of Technology, "Assuring quality in the casualisation of teaching, learning and assessment", discusses and describes management initiatives and training strategies that focus on effective ways to train, support and nurture casual teaching staff and recognising the pivotal role they play in delivering increasingly complex and intensive programs. This paper examines some models of good practice that have been developed in Sally's faculty.

This paper outlines the implementation of an action research project into the experiences of part-time teaching staff at the Queensland University of Technology several years ago. It reports on a large set of qualitative and quantitative data gathered via surveys, focus groups, interviews and observation across the entire university. Case studies and recommendations for improving the management and support of part-time teachers are also provided.

This document written by Marett Leiboff, from the Law Faculty at the Queensland University of Technology, provides a good outline for how to run a tutor induction session and follow it up with tutor support materials. It contains materials used as part of the induction session for tutors in one particular unit (LWB333: Theories of Law) as well as guidelines for tutors and a copy of the unit's assessment guidelines, marking tables, and ready-reckoners. The third section of the document provides an extract from the tutor's answer book. Click here to access a PowerPoint presentation that summarises the tutor support and management program in this unit.

The University of Melbourne's Faculty of Economics and Commerce has developed a comprehensive and interactive online tutor-training program containing concise information on key teaching areas (such as student assessment and giving feedback), accompanied by illustrative video and audio clips highlighting exemplary teaching. The site includes interviews with accomplished teachers speaking about their teaching, plus footage of teachers using a variety of interactive teaching and learning techniques (e.g., higher-order questioning).