Professor Catherine Manathunga is the Co-Director of the UniSC Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia (usc.edu.au) and Professor of Education Research in the School of Education and Tertiary Access at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is an Irish-Australian non-Indigenous ally researcher and proud transcultural mother and grandmother of Sri-Lankan-Irish-Australian children and grandchildren. Catherine is an historian who draws together expertise in historical, sociological and cultural studies research to bring an innovative perspective to educational research, particularly focusing on the higher education sector. She has worked for more than 30 years in universities throughout Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
She has had lengthy experience in working in respectful partnership with culturally diverse and Indigenous peoples in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, China and South Africa. She also has emerging connections with First Nations and culturally diverse communities in South America. She has acted as an educational consultant to many other universities in Australia and internationally. She is a research assessor for the ARC, ERA, OLT and National Research Foundation in South Africa.
Her research has been funded by the Australian Research Council, DFAT Australia China Council, Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Ako Aotearoa (NZ Centre for Tertiary Education), Higher Education Research & Development Society of Australasia, Nagoya University Japan, Hiroshima University Japan and industry partners.
From 2018 to May 2024, she was Associate Dean Research (or equivalent) of the UniSC School of Education and Tertiary Access. She has held research leadership roles in Education since 2011. From 2021 to 2024, she was the Chair of the Community of Associate Deans of Research in Education (cADRE), a network of the Australian Council of Deans of Education (ACDE).
In 2004, she was part of the team who won an Australian National AAUT Award for Enhancing Student Learning and in 2006 she led a team winning an Australian National Carrick Institute Award for Programs that Enhance Student Learning.
Keynote presentations
- SoTL Conference, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa, 2018 (forthcoming)
- Enhancing the role of teaching and learning in higher education Conference, Oslo, Norway, 2017
- SoTL in the South Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2017
- UQ School of Education Postgraduate Conference, Brisbane, Australia 2016
- National Irish Association for Research in Teaching & Learning keynote presentation for masterclass on supervision, Dublin, Ireland. 2015
- Australian & NZ Comparative and International Education Society Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 2014
- Postgraduate Supervision Conference, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2011
- Cultural Studies Association of Australasia Conference, Byron Bay, Australia 2010
- Society for Research in Higher Education Conference, Wales, 2009
- Invited to present at the Cooperative Research Centre Association Conferences in Canberra and Alice Springs in 2004; 2005 & 2010
- Invited as keynote speaker at:
- National University of Ireland, Galway 2017
- Roskilde University, Denmark, 2016
- University of British Colombia, Canada, 2015
- University of Saskatchewan, Canada, 2015
- Linköping University, Sweden, 2014
- Lund University, Sweden, 2014
- Södertörn University, Sweden, 2014
- University Sains Malaysia, 2009
- University of the South Pacific, 2008
Awards
- 2006 Australian National Carrick Institute Award for Programs that Enhance Student Learning
- 2005 UQ Award for Enhancing Student Learning
- 2004 Australian National AAUT Award for Enhancing Student Learning (UQ Graduate School)
- 2004 Promoting Women Fellowship, UQ
- 1992 Irish Studies Scholarship
- 1992 United Nations Graduate Study Program
- 1989 Irish Studies Prize
Professional Social Media
Her research interests include doctoral education, especially focusing on transcultural and Indigenous supervision pedagogies; transnational histories of universities in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Ireland; academic work and identities; the history of Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand international student programs, especially the Colombo Plan and supervising African doctoral students.
Her books include Doctoral Research Supervision, Pedagogy and the PhD: Forged in fire? (Routledge, 2023) co-authored with Bill Green and Alison Lee; a two-volume edited collection on academic work for the Palgrave Macmillan series Critical University Studies, Resisting neoliberalism in higher education: seeing through the cracks (Vol. 1) and Resisting neoliberalism in higher education: prising open the cracks (Vol. 2) (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) co-edited with Dorothy Bottrell; a sole-authored monograph, Intercultural Postgraduate Supervision: Reimagining time, place and knowledge, (Routledge, 2014); an oral history monograph, Making a place: an oral history of academic development in Australia co-edited with Alison Lee and Peter Kandlbinder (Sydney: HERDSA) and an educational history, A class of its own: a history of Queensland University of Technology (Allen & Unwin, 1999) coauthored with Noeline Kyle and Joanne Scott. Catherine has also published a substantial volume of peer-reviewed book chapters and journal articles in international edited collections and international, Australian, Irish, Japanese, Aotearoa New Zealand, Chinese, American and British journals.
Her research has been funded by the Australian Research Council, DFAT Australia China Council, Australian Learning and Teaching Council, Ako Aotearoa (NZ Centre for Tertiary Education), Higher Education Research & Development Society of Australasia, Nagoya University Japan, Hiroshima University Japan and industry partners.
Research Grants
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Project name |
Investigator(s) |
Funding body |
Year(s) of operation |
Project focus |
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The formation of academic identity: Place, space and time
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Machi Sato, Hiroshima University, Japan Barbara Grant, University of Auckland, Aotearoa NZ Frances Kelly, University of Auckland, Aotearoa NZ Catherine Manathunga Cally Guerin, University of Adelaide, Australia |
Hiroshima University |
2016-2018 |
This project will explore the formation of academic identity within the context of doctoral education. Through two sub-projects, it will focus on the historical and contemporary scenes of doctoral education as preparation for an academic career in three national sites on the Pacific Rim: Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. |
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A decade of dialogue: a cultural history of the International Academic Identities Conference 2008-2018.
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Machi Sato, Hiroshima University, Japan Tai Peseta, University of Sydney, Australia Paul Sutton, University of St Mark & St John, UK Agnes Bosanquet, Macquarie University, Australia James Burford, Thammasat University Thailand Catherine Manathunga Fiona Salisbury, La Trobe University Australia Jan Smith, Durham University UK |
Hiroshima University |
2016-2018 |
This project traces discursive shifts in ideas about academic identity by undertaking a cultural history of the International Academic Identities Conference. The project provides an analysis of the research of academic identity scholars across the globe as they wrestle with changes to, and the demands of, ideas of the University. |
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Supervising African Students |
Catherine Manathunga Stephanie Doyle, Victoria University of Wellington Aotearoa NZ Sue Cornforth Victoria University of Wellington Aotearoa NZ Gerard Prinsen Massey University, Aotearoa NZ |
Ako Aotearoa grant - NZ National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence |
2014 |
This Ako-Aotearoa funded project investigated African students’ and their supervisors’ experiences of supervision at two different Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary institutions across a number of different disciplines. It was designed to enhance understandings of intercultural communication within the supervision relationship and document culturally-effective supervision practices in work with African students. |
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Japanese Research Supervision |
Catherine Manathunga Yoshiko Saitoh, Nagoya University, Japan |
Center for the Studies of Higher Education, Nagoya University, Japan |
2012 |
This Nagoya University-funded project explored contemporary research graduate supervision in Japan. Interviews were conducted with Japanese supervisors and students to understand more about how culture, time and place play out in Japanese supervision pedagogy |
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History of Australian Academic Development: an oral history |
Alison Lee UTS Catherine Manathunga Peter Kandlbinder UTS |
Higher Education Research & Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) |
2011 |
This HERDSA-funded oral history project conducted interviews of 14 key founders of Australian academic developers and produced a monograph collection of edited oral history interviews. Ghost-writing techniques were used to re-present interview transcripts into an individual story format that was co-constructed with participants. |
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Research and innovation leaders for industry |
Catherine Manathunga Paul Boreham UQ Paul Lant UQ George Mellick UQ Christa Critchley UQ Rachael Pitt (Postdoc) |
ARC Linkage Industry partners: Rio Tinto, CSR Sugar and Qld. Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation Additional Funders: Meat & Livestock Australia Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology |
2008-2011 |
This ARC-funded project provided evidence about the preparation of future research and innovation leaders for Australian industry. Surveys of CRC graduates in 1997/98 and 2002/03, graduates from non-CRCs and of key employers of research graduates were conducted. A qualitative case study of research graduates working in industry was also undertaken.
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Development and evaluation of resources to enhance skills in Higher Degree Research supervision in an intercultural context |
Sue Spence Gail Huon Judi Homewood, Macquarie University Anna Reid, Macquarie University Allyson Holbrook, Uni of Newcastle Stephen Marshall John Hooper Sid Bourke, Uni of Newcastle Theresa Winchester-Seeto, Macquarie University Catherine Manathunga |
Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC) |
2008 |
This ALTC-funded project developed resources designed to enhance Higher Degree Research supervisors’ skills in intercultural supervision. The project employed a design-based methodology and an interdisciplinary approach to develop and evaluate these resources. Methods included surveys and focus groups with staff and students and workshopping with an expert panel. |
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The role of Honours in contemporary Australian higher education |
Margaret Kiley, ANU David Boud, UTS Robert Cantwell, Uni of Newcastle Catherine Manathunga |
Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC) |
2007
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This ALTC-funded project mapped the variation of Honours programs in Australia. It sought to explore the roles and practices used in Australian Honours Degrees and aimed to provide the higher education sector with a comprehensive account of the current status of Honours and the issues surrounding it. |
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Development and evaluation of resources to enhance skills in Higher Degree Research supervision in an intercultural context |
Sue Spence Gail Huon Judi Homewood, Macquarie University Anna Reid, Macquarie University Allyson Holbrook, Uni of Newcastle Stephen Marshall John Hooper Sid Bourke, Uni of Newcastle Theresa Winchester-Seeto, Macquarie University Catherine Manathunga |
Australian Learning & Teaching Council (ALTC) |
2008
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This ALTC-funded project developed resources designed to enhance Higher Degree Research supervisors’ skills in intercultural supervision. The project employed a design-based methodology and an interdisciplinary approach to develop and evaluate these resources. Methods included surveys and focus groups with staff and students and workshopping with an expert panel. |
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Australia’s future research leaders: are they coming from CRCs?, $20 000; Chief Investigator: Dr |
Catherine Manathunga Rachael Pitt Christa Critchley |
Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Meat Processing Corporation, Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology |
2005 |
This industry-funded project involved administering a research education questionnaire to cohorts of research students graduating in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 from 5 CRCs. The project evaluated the effectiveness of CRC education and training programs in developing industry-related skills.
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Interdisciplinary research education and staff development: an interdisciplinary study |
Catherine Manathunga Paul Lant George Mellick |
UQ Dean of Graduate School & DVC-Research |
2004 |
This research project conducted a scoping study at UQ to identify the issues involved in establishing and developing interdisciplinary research education and academic staff development across the university. It also implemented a systematic program of interdisciplinary research activities in two research centres. |
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Implementing Indigenous knowledge approaches in Australian doctoral education |
Catherine Manathunga Jing Qi RMIT Maria Raciit Aunty Judi Wickes Kathryn Gilbey Batchelor Institute Aunty Sue Stanton Batchelor Institute Michael Singh, WSU Shireen Motala, University of Johannesburg Wenqin Shen, Peking University |
Australian Research Council Discovery Project |
2021-2024 |
enabling Australia to become a world leader in global knowledge production. |
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Building Australia-China research capabilities through intercultural knowledge collaboration |
Catherine Manathunga Qi Jing RMIT Tracey Bunda USQ Michael Singh WSU |
Australia-China Council (DFAT) |
2018-2020 |
This project will increase knowledge collaboration, educational connectivity and cultural engagement between Australia and China. It aims to improving the transcultural research capabilities of research supervisors and students in Mainland China and Australia. This project will create and trial five research-based modules on Chinese and Australian history and culture, multilingual knowledge co-construction, supervisory relationships and time mapping. The project will enhance the China literacy of Australian supervisors and universities particularly through increasing their awareness of Chinese intellectual history and culture and enhancing the supervision of Chinese research students. |
Research areas
- doctoral education
- transnational university histories
- academic identities
- history of Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand international student programs
- supervising African doctoral students
Teaching areas
- Postgraduate Research Methods and Theory
- History and Sociology of Education
- Masters and PhD supervision
- Cultural Diversity and Education
Professor Catherine Manathunga is an historian who has published in the areas of transcultural and Indigenous pedagogies in doctoral education. She also advocates strategies that might assist in decolonisng the curriculum in higher education. She draws upon postcolonial/decolonial and poststructural theoretical frameworks.