Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald
Associate Professor / Deputy Associate Dean (Academic)
School of Business
+61 7 334 67308
+61 7 336 56575
Researcher biography
Associate Professor Rachel Fitzgerald is the Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. Rachel is internationally acknowledged for her expertise in Technology-Enhanced Learning and stands as a curriculum leader in the digital age, specialising in contemporary higher education and AI-driven learning. Rachel has spearheaded teaching and learning initiatives across various institutions globally and is leading research on microcredentials, workplace learning and Scholarship of AI in Teaching and Learning.
Online Profiles
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/rmfitzgerald
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachelmfitz
- Bluesky: @rmfitzg.bsky.social
Publications
Book Chapters
Newell, Samantha, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Hall, Kimberley, Mills, Jennie, Beynen, Tina, May, Ivy Chia Sook, Mason, Jon and Lai, Evelyn (2024). Integrating GenAI in higher education. Using Generative AI Effectively in Higher Education. (pp. 42-53) edited by Sue Beckingham, Jenny Lawrence, Stephen Powell and Peter Hartley. London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003482918-7
Russell, Holly, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Meth, Deanna and Huijser, Henk (2023). A high impact program design framework to support future focused curriculum design. High impact practices in higher education: International perspectives high impact practices in higher education. (pp. 29-44) edited by Enakshi Sengupta. Leeds, United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing. doi: 10.1108/S2055-364120230000051003
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2023). The opportunities and challenges in the portability and authentication of micro-credentials and short courses in a post-COVID landscape. Technology-enhanced learning and the virtual university. (pp. 1-13) edited by Michael David Sankey, Henk Huijser and Rachel Fitzgerald. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-9438-8_24-1
Jones, Hazel and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The role of analytics when supporting staff and students in the virtual learning environment. Technology-enhanced learning and the virtual university. (pp. 1-14) edited by Michael David Sankey, Henk Huijser and Rachel Fitzgerald. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-19-9438-8_11-1
Jones, Hazel and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The Role of Analytics When Supporting Staff and Students in the Virtual Learning Environment. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 187-200) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_11
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2023). The Opportunities and Challenges in the Portability and Authentication of Micro-credentials and Short Courses in a Post-COVID Landscape. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 465-477) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_24
Sankey, Michael David, Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The Virtual University: Moving from Fiction to Fact. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 3-19) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_1
Sankey, Michael David, Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2023). The Virtual University in Practice. Technology-Enhanced Learning and the Virtual University. (pp. 619-639) Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. doi: 10.1007/978-981-99-4170-4_31
Meth, Deanna, Russell, Holly R., Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2020). Enabling Scholarship of Teaching and Learning activities across a curriculum design framework: a lever for faculty engagement. Evidence-based faculty development through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). (pp. 347-364) Hershey, PA USA: IGI Global. doi: 10.4018/978-1-7998-2212-7.ch018
Journal Articles
Sankey, Michael, Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2024). The Virtual University as a Frontier for Navigating New Learning Spaces, Pedagogies, and Technologies. ASCILITE Publications, 156-158. doi: 10.14742/apubs.2024.1139
Konarova, Muxina, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Birkett, Greg, Bakharia, Aneesha, Howes, Tony, Rufford, Tom and O'Brien, Kate (2024). AI: Educating the educators. The Chemical Engineer, 26-28.
Crawford, Joseph, Vallis, Carmen, Yang, Jianhua, Fitzgerald, Rachel, O'Dea, Christine and Cowling, Michael (2024). Editorial: Artificial Intelligence is Awesome, but Good Teaching Should Always Come First. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 20 (7), 1-12. doi: 10.53761/sj1b6530
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Huijser, Henk, Altena, Sharon and Armellini, Ale (2023). Addressing the challenging elements of distance education. Distance Education, 44 (2), 207-212. doi: 10.1080/01587919.2023.2209527
Crawford, Joseph, Vallis, Carmen, Yang, Jianhua, Fitzgerald, Rachel and O'dea, Christine (2023). Editorial: Artificial Intelligence is Awesome, but Good Teaching Should Always Come First. Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 20 (7) 01. doi: 10.53761/1.20.7.01
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Huijser, Henk, Umarova, Anastasiya and Adachi, Chie (2022). Reconnecting lifelong learners through short courses and microcredentials designed with industry partners. ASCILITE Publications, e22141. doi: 10.14742/apubs.2022.141
Rossiter, Eliza, Thomson, T.J. and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2022). Supporting university students’ learning across time and space: a from-scratch, personalised and mobile-friendly approach. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 21 (1), 108-130. doi: 10.1108/itse-07-2022-0082
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Huijser, Henk, Meth, Deanna and Neilan, Kellene (2020). Student-staff partnerships in academic development: the course design studio as a model for sustainable course-wide impact. International Journal for Academic Development, 25 (2), 134-146. doi: 10.1080/1360144X.2019.1631170
Huijser, Henk, Fitzgerald, Rachel and Salmon, Gilly (2020). Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 36 (5), 1-4. doi: 10.14742/ajet.6664
Huijser, Henk and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2020). Managing expectations and developing trust: an evaluation of a public-private partnership. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 36 (5), 58-70. doi: 10.14742/ajet.6368
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Anderson, Maggie and Thompson, Ross (2015). Adding value: open online learning and the MBA. Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 13 (4), 250-259.
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Corazzo, Paul (2013). Out of sight, out of mind: capturing the distance (online) learner experience. Enhancing the Learner Experience in Higher Education, 5 (1), 58-64. doi: 10.14234/elehe.v5i1.76
Conference Papers
Fitzgerald, Rachel (2025). Panel member – Career pathways for education-focused academics. AoFE Symposium, Online, 24 July 2025. Australia: Alliance of Finance Educators (AoFE).
Fitzgerald, Rachel (2025). Beyond the theory: trust, agency, and pedagogical transformation in the age of Generative AI. International Conference for Education Development and Studies, Oxford, United Kingdom, 26 - 28 March 2025.
Fitzgerald, Rachel (2025). Building trust with AI. Artificial Intelligence Symposium 2025, Virtual, 25 February 2025. York: Advance HE.
Fitzgerald, Rachel (2024). Navigating Next Steps in Online and Digital Learning: Adaptive Challenges for Global Higher Education. International Conference on Education Development and Studies, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 4 - 26 April 2024. New York, NY United States: Association for Computing Machinery.
Cossu, Remo, Fitzgerald, Rachel, Birthisel, Marcus, Mishiro, Keiko, Lin, Ing Sheuan and Fleming, Melanie (2023). Creating a dialogue about evaluation; a students-as-partners approach to feedback about learning and teaching. 34th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Annual Conference: Adapting to the Changing Expectations of Students and Industry, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 3-6 December 2023. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Australasian Association for Engineering Education.
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Rossiter, Eliza and Thompson, T. J. (2022). A personalized approach to learning across time and space. 1st European Conference on e-Learning - ECEL 2022, Brighton, United Kingdom, 27-28 October 2022. Kidmore End, United Kingdom: Academic Conferences International. doi: 10.34190/ecel.21.1.901
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Rossiter, Eliza and Thompson, T. J. (2022). A personalized approach to flexible learning. 21st European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL 2022, Brighton, United Kingdom, 27 – 28 October 2022. Sonning Common, United Kingdom: Academic Conferences and Publishing International.
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Huijser, Henk (2021). Exploring industry-university partnerships in the creation of short courses and micro-credentials. ASCILITE 2021: Back to the Future, Armidale, NSW Australia, 29 November - 1 December 2021. Armidale, NSW Australia: University of New England. doi: 10.14742/ascilite2021.0149
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Henderson-Martin, Hayley (2015). Transforming the first year experience (HE) with digital literacy via techno-social engagement and evaluation. 14th European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL 2015, Hatfield, United Kingdom, 29 - 30 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Academic Conferences.
Fitzgerald, Rachel, Anderson, Maggie and Thompson, Ross (2014). MOOC's mass marketing for a niche audience. 13th European Conference on e-Learning, ECEL 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark, 30 - 31 October 2014. Kidmore End: Academic Conferences.
Fitzgerald, Rachel (2011). To what extent does a digital audio feedback strategy support large cohorts?. 10th European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL), Brighton England, Nov 10-11, 2011. NR READING: Dechema e.V..
Audio Document
Pankaluic, Toni and Fitzgerald, Rachel (2025). Calls for AI ethics to be added in university curriculum. The Wire.
Newspaper Articles
Fitzgerald, Rachel and Curtis, Caitlin (2025, 07 18). AI is now part of our world. Uni graduates should know how to use it responsibly The Conversation
Creative Works
Anna Hol, Rachel Fitzgerald, Alison Beavis and Ian Li (2025). Balancing scalability with student-centered approaches. EDUTech 2025: Terrapin EDUTech_AU.
Rachel Fitzgerald (2025). Beyond Engagement: Student-Informed Approaches to AI-Enabled Learning. EDUTech 2025: Terrapin EDUTech_AU.
Rachel Fitzgerald, Jianhua Yang and Isabel Fischer (2025). Can We Trust AI? Challenges, Risks, and Opportunities. University of Warwick, Coventry, UK: Warwick International Higher Education Academy (WIHEA).
Rachel Fitzgerald (2025). The Virtual University as a Frontier for Navigating New Learning Spaces, Pedagogies, and Technologies. Valencia, Spain: INTED (International Technology, Education and Development Conference).
Rachel Fitzgerald (2025). Building Trust with AI: Practical Approaches for Higher Education. Seamus Heaney Theatre G114, Cregan Library Building, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland: European Academic Assembly (EAA) / Dublin City University.
Rachel Fitzgerald (2024). Keynote: Leading the Charge with AI in Education and Research in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry. Griffith University, Queensland, Australia: Australasian Institute of Chemical Engineers (Chemeca 2024).
Hassan Khosravi, Rachel Fitzgerald, YJ Kim and Nathan Zoanetti (2024). Panel Discussion: Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: ASK4AI Summit, Monash University.
Anna Hol, Rachel Fitzgerald and Helen Gniel (2024). PANEL - Technology integration of GAI – the ethical use, data governance, and the potential impacts on educational equity and accessibility. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Terrapinn Australia.
Rachel Fitzgerald (2024). Building trust with AI: Practical approaches for higher education. Online Conference, hosted by the International Association of Management Science and Engineering Technology, Beijing Time: International Conference on Teaching and Teacher Education (ICTTE2024).
Rachel Fitzgerald, Lynne Gribble and John Raiti (2024). Beyond the Hype: Evaluate the Impact of AI on Learning (and Get Published) Workshop. Online (hosted virtually via Open Publishing Association international conference platform): Open Publishing Association.
Huijser, Henk, Fitzgerald, Rachel and Salmon, Gilly (2020). Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university (European session). Online webinar hosted by ASCILITE: Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE).
Henk Huijser, Rachel Fitzgerald and Gilly Salmon (2020). Partnerships for scaled online learning and the unbundling of the traditional university (Australasian session). Online webinar hosted by ASCILITE: Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE).
Rachel Fitzgerald (2015). Ensuring Quality in the Delivery of TNE – Improving Teaching Practices. Congress Centre, London, United Kingdom: International Unit (UK HE International Unit / Universities UK).
Rachel Fitzgerald (2014). Transforming Higher Education Curriculum for Transnational Education. Royal College of Surgeons, London, United Kingdom: UK Higher Education International Unit.
Remi Cossu, Rachel Fitzgerald, Melanie Fleming and Keiko Mishiro (2011). How can students become more involved as change agents in digital feedback strategies?. Online conference hosted by University of the Sunshine Coast (Australian Students as Partners Network), held virtually: Australian Students as Partners Network (via Australian Students as Partners Roundtable 2022).