4 December 2013
Hamish Coates has been appointed to the Chair of Higher Education at The University of Melbourne’s influential Centre for the Study of 
Higher Education, succeeding Simon Marginson.
Higher Education, succeeding Simon Marginson.
A specialist in assessment and evaluation, Coates focuses on improving the quality and productivity of learning, academic work and leadership. Coates says he welcomes the opportunity to contribute to CSHE’s research and professional development:
Universities have never been more important for our future, yet funding is tight and complexities abound. In coming years we’ll lead R&D that creates new value for higher education, helping to further build Melbourne as an international centre of learning and innovation within the dynamic and high-growth Asian region.
Over a fifteen year career Coates has led around 50 projects that have shaped scholarship, policy and practice. Coates has worked across 40 countries, authored over 200 publications, and given around 200 keynotes. He serves on several boards, and has provided technical advice to many national and international agencies. He was International Director of OECD’s Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) Feasibility Study. He developed the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) and University Experience Survey (UES).
Coates was Founding Director of Higher Education Research the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) from 2006 to 2013. Between 2010 and 2013 Coates was a Program Director at the LH Martin Institute for Tertiary Leadership and Management.
Coates completed his PhD in 2005 at CSHE and in 2012 he completed executive training at INSEAD.
