Professor Ryan Naylor
People_

Professor Ryan Naylor

Professor of Higher Education
Sydney School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Professor Ryan Naylor

Ryan Naylor is Academic Coordinator (Education Quality) and Professor of Higher Education in the Sydney School of Health Sciences. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and Principal Fellow, HEA. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for the Q1 journal, Student Success.

His current research focuses primarily on understanding and addressing barriers to success in higher education. He has published widely on issues of access to higher education, equity interventions and their evaluation, and the experiences and expectations of students. He is also available for consultancies on these and related topics.

Previously, Ryan was Core First Year Coordinator at La Trobe University, Lecturer in Higher Education at the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne, and Visiting Fellow at the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education at Curtin University.

  • higher education
  • education and education research
  • student equity, widening participation, social inclusion, and access and participation
  • equity interventions
  • evaluation
  • quality of teaching
  • the student experience and wellbeing
  • transition and the first year experience
  • student engagement
  • attrition
  • student satisfaction
  • higher education policy
  • social science
  • mixed methods research

Ryan is co-coordinator for the unit, HSBH1003 Health, Behaviour and Society.

He supervises Masters and PhD students in several fields, including projects examining aspects of higher education research, and health and STEM education.

2022

Fulbright Senior Scholar Award

Australian-American Fulbright Commission

Understanding students’ conceptions of the transition to higher education: what it takes to be successful, and what success means to them

Host: Professor Christy Craft; Departmental Chair; Department of Special Education, Counselling and Student Affairs; Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

Host: Professor Wendy Troxley; Director; NACADA Center for Research; Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA

Principal Fellow

Advanced Higher Education

In recognition of sustained and effective strategic leadership of higher education practice and implementation of effective and inclusive strategies and policies, with extensive impact on high-quality learning

2020

Visiting Fellow (withdrawn due to Covid-19)

Host: Professor Eisuke Kita

Centre for the Studies of Higher Education

Nagoya University

Nagoya, Japan

2018

Pro-Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Award Commendation

La Trobe University

Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

For innovation and leadership in improving the first year student experience and student retention in the health sciences

Cultural Influencers Leadership Development Program

Partner: Professor Kerri-Lee Krause, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)

La Trobe University

Bundoora, Victoria, Australia

STARS: Students, Transitions, Achievement, Retention and Success conference award for Best Research Paper

Auckland, New Zealand

Conference paper: Intra-university partnerships improve student success in a first-year success and retention outreach initiative

Project titleResearch student
Exploring the lived experience of higher education students during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of hermeneutic phenomenologyMark MACKAY

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Naylor, R. (2019). Old technologies, new opportunities: rethinking traditional approaches to student engagement in Australia. In Masahiro Tanaka (Eds.), Student Engagement and Quality Assurance in Higher Education International Collaborations for the Enhancement of Learning, (pp. 57-72). London: Routledge U.K. [More Information]
  • Tanaka, M., Naylor, R., Ursin, J., Zavale, N. (2019). The future of student engagement. In Masahiro Tanaka (Eds.), Student Engagement and Quality Assurance in Higher Education International Collaborations for the Enhancement of Learning, (pp. 162-169). London: Routledge U.K. [More Information]

Journals

  • Bennett, A., Naylor, R., Hanley, J., Burgess, C. (2024). Access and Equity in Australian Higher Education: The Equity Initiatives Framework Version 2.0. A Practice Report. Student Success, 15(2 Special Issue), 67-74. [More Information]
  • Mahat, M., Dollinger, M., D’Angelo, B., Naylor, R., Harvey, A. (2023). Co-designing a curriculum model for career education: perspectives from regional communities in Australia. Australian Educational Researcher, 50(2), 409-431. [More Information]
  • Naylor, R., Cox, S., Cakitaki, B. (2023). Personalised outreach to students on leave of absence to reduce attrition risk. Australian Educational Researcher, 50(2), 433-451. [More Information]

Report

  • Naylor, R., Mifsud, N. (2019). Structural inequality in higher education: creating institutional cultures that enable all students.
  • Terry, L., Naylor, R., Nguyen, N., Rizzo, A. (2016). NOT THERE YET - An Investigation into the Access and Participation of Students from Humanitarian Refugee Backgrounds in the Australian Higher Education System.

2024

  • Bennett, A., Naylor, R., Hanley, J., Burgess, C. (2024). Access and Equity in Australian Higher Education: The Equity Initiatives Framework Version 2.0. A Practice Report. Student Success, 15(2 Special Issue), 67-74. [More Information]

2023

  • Mahat, M., Dollinger, M., D’Angelo, B., Naylor, R., Harvey, A. (2023). Co-designing a curriculum model for career education: perspectives from regional communities in Australia. Australian Educational Researcher, 50(2), 409-431. [More Information]
  • Naylor, R., Cox, S., Cakitaki, B. (2023). Personalised outreach to students on leave of absence to reduce attrition risk. Australian Educational Researcher, 50(2), 433-451. [More Information]

2022

  • Naylor, R. (2022). Key factors influencing psychological distress in university students: the effects of tertiary entrance scores. Studies in Higher Education, 47(3), 630-642. [More Information]

2021

  • Naylor, R., Bird, F., Butler, N. (2021). Academic expectations among university students and staff: addressing the role of psychological contracts and social norms. Higher Education, 82(5), 847-863. [More Information]
  • Dollinger, M., D’Angelo, B., Naylor, R., Harvey, A., Mahat, M. (2021). Participatory design for community-based research: a study on regional student higher education pathways. Australian Educational Researcher, 48(4), 739-755. [More Information]
  • McDonald, A., McGowan, H., Dollinger, M., Naylor, R., Khosravi, H. (2021). Repositioning students as co-creators of curriculum for online learning resources. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 37(6), 102-118. [More Information]

2020

  • Naylor, R., Mifsud, N. (2020). Towards a structural inequality framework for student retention and success. Higher Education Research and Development, 39(2), 259-272. [More Information]

2019

  • Baik, C., Naylor, R., Arkoudis, S., Dabrowski, A. (2019). Examining the experiences of first-year students with low tertiary admission scores in Australian universities. Studies in Higher Education, 44(3), 526-538. [More Information]
  • Cox, S., Naylor, R. (2019). Intra-university partnerships improve student success in a first-year success and retention outreach initiative. Student Success, 9(3), 51-64. [More Information]
  • Naylor, R. (2019). Old technologies, new opportunities: rethinking traditional approaches to student engagement in Australia. In Masahiro Tanaka (Eds.), Student Engagement and Quality Assurance in Higher Education International Collaborations for the Enhancement of Learning, (pp. 57-72). London: Routledge U.K. [More Information]

2018

  • Baik, C., Naylor, R., Corrin, L. (2018). Developing a framework for university-wide improvement in the training and support of ‘casual’ academics. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 40(4), 375-389. [More Information]
  • Naylor, R., Chakravarti, S., Baik, C. (2018). Expectations and experiences of off-campus PhD students in Australia. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 42(4), 524-538. [More Information]
  • Dollinger, M., Coates, H., Bexley, E., Croucher, G., Naylor, R. (2018). Framing international approaches to university–industry collaboration. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 2(1), 105-127. [More Information]

2017

  • Naylor, R. (2017). First year student conceptions of success: What really matters? Student Success, 8(2), 9-19. [More Information]
  • Coates, H., Kelly, P., Naylor, R. (2017). Leading Online Education for Student Success. International Journal of Chinese Education, 6(1), 105-126. [More Information]

2016

  • Naylor, R., Chakravarti, S., Baik, C. (2016). Differing motivations and requirements in PhD student cohorts: A case study. Issues In Educational Research, 26(2), 352-367.
  • Naylor, R., Chakravarti, S., Baik, C. (2016). Differing motivations and requirements in PhD student cohorts: A case study. Issues In Educational Research, 26(2), 351-367. [More Information]
  • Coates, H., Kelly, P., Naylor, R., Borden, V. (2016). Innovative Approaches for Enhancing the 21st Century Student Experience. Alternation: international journal for the study of Southern African literature and languages, 23(1), 62-89.

2014

  • Mulder, R., Baik, C., Naylor, R., Pearce, J. (2014). How does student peer review influence perceptions, engagement and academic outcomes? A case study. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 39(6), 657-677. [More Information]

In the media

F Bird, R Naylor, N Butler, Staff and student perceptions of academic expectations: How closely do they align? The Australian Biochemist. 2020.

D O’Keefe, Low ATAR students likelier to drop out: study, The Australian. October 24, 2017. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/low-atar-students-likelier-to-drop-out-study/news-story/9171008b766ca0a984fe5ee389e9f782

J Lodge & R Searston, Beyond the Lectern Podcast: Equity and inclusion with Ryan Naylor, MCSHE, September 28, 2017. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/melbourne-cshe/beyond-the-lectern/e/51775410; https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/beyond-the-lectern-podcast/id1257961478?mt=2

M McGuane, Interview, QUT News Radio. September 28, 2017. http://www.qutnews.com/2017/09/28/qut-radio-news-thursday-28-september-2017/#.WfFoUdeWbIU

D O’Keeffe, Welcoming, low-stress campus can help retain first-year students, The Australian. September 27, 2017. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/welcoming-lowstress-campus-can-help-retain-firstyear-students/news-story/0c7eb2f677833b288af74b8ad261abce

B Smithy, More refugee engagement needed in Aus HE, report argues, PIE News. August 18, 2016. http://thepienews.com/news/more-refugee-engagement-needed-in-aus-he-report-argues/

J Ross, Stronger focus needed on refugee students. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. August 17, 2016. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/stronger-focus-needed-on-refugee-students/news-story/62cd26490d2d71540dd1ce6e0a95a6cb

R Symons, Breakfast with Red Symons, 774 ABC Melbourne. August 15, 2016.

H Cook & D Flitton, Meet the university students who have been through hell. The Age. August 14, 2016. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/meet-the-university-students-who-have-been-through-hell-20160812-gqreh1.html

H Coates, Australia must do better in conveying value of higher education. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. June 1, 2016. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/opinion/australia-must-do-better-in-conveying-value-of-higher-education/news-story/316e7e0eecb59227056ff6643d853ec1

J Hare, QUT keeps tabs but most unis in the dark about student activity. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. March 16, 2016. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/qut-keeps-tabs-but-most-unis-in-the-dark-about-student-activity/news-story/846bbdd4e8fffe1d8495b059b72fadaf

H Coates, Employability: time for higher education sector to step up. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. November 25, 2015. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/opinion/employability-time-for-higher-education-sector-to-step-up/news-story/bf2846cd3079752a796fc5981f9a239c

G Newman, The great uni gender divide: where the boys and girls are at, and where their choices take them. Sydney Morning Herald. August 9, 2015. http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/tertiary-courses-where-the-boys-and-girls-are-at-and-where-their-choices-take-them-20150803-giq3oj.html

J Hare, $31 million equity program had little effect. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. June 24, 2015. www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/31m-equity-program-had-little-effect/news-story/defb5b778ca2670838fe935bd694b41c

R Naylor, Curriculum reform at Sydney uni – separating the glitz from the grit, The Conversation. June 5, 2015. 5,448 page views, 78 comments, 38 tweets, 10 Facebook likes, 24 Linked In shares. https://theconversation.com/curriculum-reform-at-sydney-uni-separating-the-glitz-from-the-grit-42747

C Bantick, Mindfulness helps students concentrate in the class at at home. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. May 30, 2015. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/mindfulness-helps-students-concentrate-in-the-class-at-at-home/news-story/6df2e7a41aa2962a28b12a75a0f0042c

J Hare, First year university students happier than ever. Higher Education supplement. The Australian. March 4, 2015. www.theaustralian.com.au/higher...than.../21a022dd6627ab3991b0e2e3b9077d3e