STAFF PROFILE
Professor Chris Ziguras
Chris is Professor of Global Studies and leads the University's global studies, languages, and translating and interpreting disciplines.
Chris' research deals broadly with the internationalisation of higher education, across four main areas of focus:
His primary area of focus for over two decades has been higher education policy studies, and in particular the global diffusion of policy ideas and regulatory approaches. He is interested in how potential problems are understood within different systems, and the political, technical and cultural factors that shape national and institutional responses. I have worked on a diverse range of topics, from quality assurance in Cambodia to student accommodation policy in Melbourne, and from EU capacity-building in Latin American universities to World Bank influence on HE policy in Tunisia.
A second area of focus has been the regulation of cross-border educational flows, including consideration of the treatment of foreign providers and programs, student visa policies, the education-migration nexus, scholarship programs, and so on. The bulk of his commissioned research and engagement with professional and industry associations has dealt with such questions.
His third area of focus concerns higher education teaching and learning, including an ongoing interest in the ways in which digital technology is transforming learning and teaching, as well as work on academic development for internationalised learning environments.
Recently Chris has been developing a new area of focus arising out of a series of DFAT-funded projects on the international recognition of professional qualifications in APEC. This has involved the creation in 2021 of a comprehensive database of mutual recognition agreements. The next phase of this program is examining the impediments to professional mobility across the Asia Pacific, which is a significant factor in shaping educational mobility and graduate opportunities, an important long-term driver of harmonisation of education systems and professional standards.
- PhD, Political Science, Monash University
- Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, Monash University
- Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Melbourne
Chris has worked extensively with industry bodies, professional associations and government agencies on a wide range of projects and partnerships to jointly undertake research, teaching, professional development, policy advocacy, student mobility and work placements. In recent years he has worked on projects and partnerships with the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Red Cross, the British Council and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.
Chris was President of the International Education Association of Australia 2015-18 and for over a decade has contributed to the Association's work, particularly in relation to research, professional development and policy advocacy. He is an IEAA Senior Fellow and in 2022 received the IEAA Award for Distinguished Contribution to International Education.
Current engagement roles include:
- Chair of Academic Board, Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Milan
- Principal Research Fellow, Australian APEC Study Centre, Melbourne
- Honorary Senior Fellow, Centre for Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne
Professional membership:
- International Education Association of Australia
- Australian Institute of International Affairs
- Higher Education Research and Development Association of Australasia
- Oceania Comparative and International Education Society
- Ilieva, J.,Healey, N.,Tsiligiris, V.,Ziguras, C.,Killingley, P.,Lawton, W. (2022). The Value of Transnational Education Partnerships In: British Council United Kingdom
- Ziguras, C. (2022). Environment for Transnational Education Partnerships and UK Qualifications: Challenges and Opportunities - Vietnam and UK In: British Council United Kingdom
- Ziguras, C. (2022). GUNi International Call for Action (2022-2025): Rethinking Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for Sustainable and Inclusive Societies In: Global University Network for Innovation Barcelona, Spain
- Ziguras, C.,Qi, J.,Bond, C.,Bondietti, K.,Wood-Ingram, B.,Tran, T.,Soans, A.,Emerson, C. (2022). Strengthening Victoria’s Connections with Southeast Asia: Trade and Investment Opportunities In: Victorian Government Melbourne
- Ziguras, C.,Lucas, J. (2021). Host Community Impact: From harm-minimization to positive impact In: Education Abroad: Bridging Scholarship and Practice, Internationalization in Higher Education Series, Abingdon, United Kingdom
- Lawrence, R.,Ziguras, C. (2021). Student Voices: Domestic cohort engagement with international students through COVID-19 In: International Education Association of Australia Melbourne, Australia
- Lawrence, R.,Ziguras, C. (2021). Student Voices: International students’ experiences during COVID-19 In: International Education Association of Australia Melbourne, Australia
- Ziguras, C. (2021). Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Asia Pacific: Lessons from the Inventory of Mutual Recognition Agreements in APEC In: Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Singapore
- Ziguras, C.,Alves, T.,Miles, S. (2020). Enhancing the Design Quality of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation In: City of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia
- Ziguras, C. (2018). Soft power projection: the political return on investment in international higher education In: Handbook on the Politics of Higher Education, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
- Asia Trade and Innovation Hub (VHESIF Pool 1). Funded by: Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF) - Pool 1 from (2021 to 2025)
- APEC Professional and Skilled Services Gateway - an Inventory on Mutual Recognition Agreements. Funded by: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Research Agreement Contract from (2020 to 2022)
- Equitable employment for women in mining companies in Laos and Thailand. Funded by: AusAID Development Research Awards Scheme pre-2014 from (2013 to 2015)
- Governing International Trade in Higher Education: A Comparative Study of International Education Policy Development. Funded by: ARC Discovery Projects 2005 from (2005 to 2009)
- Sources of Insecurity: Local, National and Global. Funded by: ARC Research Initiatives Seed Funding Grant pre-2014 from (2004 to 2005)
16 PhD Completions and 3 Masters by Research Completions3 PhD Current Supervisions