Dr Qian Liu, Our people, Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand

BMGT, MSc (Edinburgh), PhD (Auckland)

Email: qian.liu@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 7758

About Qian

Photo of Qian Liu for staff profile I provide academic development support to staff and students, teach within the programmes offered by HEDC, and research in the field of higher education. Prior to this role, I was a professional practice fellow (eLearning) in a medical school, postdoc research fellow in a business school, assistant researcher in a policy research institute, and training specialist in an oil and gas company. I completed my doctoral research within three years at the University of Auckland and the thesis received Dean’s List award. I gained a Master of Science degree from the University of Edinburgh, and a Bachelor of Management degree from a Chinese university.

Research interests

My research revolves around learning and teaching in higher education. My doctoral study investigated the adoption of learning technologies by academics. Since then, I have conducted research into approaches to academic development, employability development pedagogies, vicarious learning via videoed tutorials, student video production, and more recently non-institutional technologies and learning analytics. However, I don’t think previous research experience should define my future research interests: I try to keep an open mind and learn a bit of everything when I can.

Methodologically I am a mixed-methods researcher by training. I use the most appropriate method(s) to answer the research question, be they qualitative, quantitative, or a combination of several. Epistemologically, I find a constructivist stance best explains the reality I perceive. I update my research projects regularly on ResearchGate.

Supervision

I am available for postgraduate supervision. I have benefited greatly, both personally and professionally, from my doctoral supervision experience. It’s only fair that I provide the same experience, if not better, to my students. I view research a journey that extends our capabilities, reshapes how we think, and possibly allows us to create new knowledge. As a supervisor, I cannot control the journey, but I will be an honest and trustworthy travel companion. Please get in touch if you would like to have a chat about your research ideas.

Current PhD students

Anjin Hu - Technology mediated authentic assessment, 2022

Research Projects

2021 Medical Education Research Fund, Otago Medical School
The influence of students’ perceived learning autonomy support on approaches to learning (co-investigator, NZD 4,561)
2020 University Teaching Development Grant, University of Otago
Analytics-informed design: Using learning management system recorded data to enhance course development (Principal Investigator, NZD 9,036)
2020 Medical Education Research Fund, Otago Medical School
Capturing the invisible: An investigation of the use of non-institutional eLearning tools and resources by medical students (Principal Investigator, NZD 5,296)
2020 HERDSA NZ Grant Scheme, HERDSA-NZ
Capturing the invisible: The use of non-institutional elearning tools and resources by undergraduate students in New Zealand universities (Principal Investigator, NZD 1,402)
2018 Ako Aotearoa Co-funded Project, Ako Aotearoa and University of Auckland
Embedding Employability in the Curriculum: Strategies for the development of future-ready employability attributes within advanced and research informed programmes (Research Fellow, NZD 300,000)

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Publications

Liu, Q., Gladman, T., Grove, C., Eberhard, S., Geertshuis, S., Ali, A., Blyth, P., & Grainger, R. (2023). Capturing the invisible: Non-institutional technologies in undergraduate learning within three New Zealand universities. Internet & Higher Education, 58, 100910. doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2023.100910

Geertshuis, S., Liu, Q., Lewis, N., & Cui, J. (2022). Stuck between a rock and a hard place: The challenge of preparing graduates for their futures. Innovations in Education & Teaching International. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/14703297.2022.2152362

Liu, Q., Geertshuis, S., Gladman, T., & Grainger, R. (2022). Can video production projects teach students anything: A scoping review of health professions education literature. In E. Heinrich, A. Jolley & L. Rowan (Eds.), Proceedings of the Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. (pp. 49-50). HERDSA Aotearoa/New Zealand. [Abstract]

Geertshuis, S., & Liu, Q. (2022). Work, study, sleep, repeat: The wellbeing of students who work while they study. In E. Heinrich, A. Jolley & L. Rowan (Eds.), Proceedings of the Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. (pp. 33-34). HERDSA Aotearoa/New Zealand. [Abstract]

Geertshuis, S., Wass, R., & Liu, Q. (2022). Equipping graduates with future-ready capabilities: An application of learning theories to higher education. Teaching in Higher Education. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13562517.2022.2137399

Geertshuis, S., Rix, N., Murdoch, O., & Liu, Q. (2021). Learning by watching others learn: Vicarious learning from videoed tutorials. In D. S. P. Gedera & A. Zalipour (Eds.), Video pedagogy: Theory and practice. (pp. 103-122). Singapore: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-981-33-4009-1_6

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Geertshuis, S., & Liu, Q. (2022). The challenges we face: A professional identity analysis of learning technology implementation. Innovations in Education & Teaching International, 59(2), 205-215. doi: 10.1080/14703297.2020.1832904

Journal - Research Article

Liu, Q. (2022). Beyond technology use: A people-centred approach to reconceptualising the adoption of learning technologies. Advancing Scolarship and Research in Higher Education, 3(1), 1-23. Retrieved from https://asrhe.org/index.php/asrhe/article/view/6539

Journal - Research Article

Geertshuis, S., Liu, Q., Rix, N., Murdoch, O., & McConnell, M. (2021). Learning by watching others learn: The use of videoed tutorials in undergraduate business education. Higher Education Pedagogies, 6(1), 156-174. doi: 10.1080/23752696.2021.1916980

Journal - Research Article

Grainger, R., Liu, Q., & Geertshuis, S. (2021). Learning technologies: A medium for the transformation of medical education? Medical Education, 55(1), 23-29. doi: 10.1111/medu.14261

Journal - Research Article

Liu, Q., & Geertshuis, S. (2021). Professional identity and the adoption of learning management systems. Studies in Higher Education, 46(3), 624-637. doi: 10.1080/03075079.2019.1647413

Journal - Research Article

Wu, X., Zhang, L. J., & Liu, Q. (2021). Using assessment for learning: Multi-case studies of three Chinese University English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers engaging students in learning and assessment. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 725132. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.725132

Journal - Research Article

Liu, Q., Geertshuis, S., & Grainger, R. (2020). Understanding academics' adoption of learning technologies: A systematic review. Computers & Education, 151, 103857. doi: 10.1016/j.compedu.2020.103857

Journal - Research Article

Liu, Q., & Geertshuis, S. (2016). Exploring and facilitating learning management system adoption. International Journal of E-Learning & Educational Technologies in the Digital Media, 2(3), 105-119. doi: 10.17781/P002210

Journal - Research Article

Liu, Q., Geertshuis, S., Gladman, T., & Grainger, R. (2022). Student video production within health professions education: A scoping review. Medical Education Online, 27(1), 2040349. doi: 10.1080/10872981.2022.2040349

Journal - Research Other

Geertshuis, S., & Liu, Q. (2016). e-learning ecosystem awareness and professional identity in e-learning technology adoption. In J. Novotna & A. Jancarik (Eds.), Proceedings of the 15th European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL 2016). (pp. 230-238). Sonning Common, UK: Academic Conferences and Publishing International. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Geertshuis, S., Cameron, B., & Liu, Q. (2016). Shape shifting in higher education: Contrasting conceptions of academics, their development and the roles academic developers play. Business & Management Review, 8(2), (pp. 12-23). [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Liu, Q., & Geertshuis, S. (2016). Explorations in learning management system adoption. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on E-Learning and E-Technologies in Education (ICEEE). (pp. 1-13). Wilmington, DE: Society of Digital Information and Wireless Communications. [Full Paper]

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Liu, Q., & Geertshuis, S. (2016). Professional identity and teachers’ learning technology adoption: A review of adopter-related antecedents. Proceedings of the 33rd Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) Conference: Show Me The Learning. (pp. 365-374). Retrieved from http://2016conference.ascilite.org/

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper