Robert Matthews

Dr Robert Matthews

Senior Lecturer

School of Education

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Robert Matthews is a senior lecturer in the School of Education, having joined the School in 2003. He teaches in both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, preparing beginning teachers for their classroom practice and guiding early researchers in their Masters dissertations respectively. Prior to this position, Robert was a post-doctoral research physicist at Flinders University doing theoretical calculations of electron scattering experiments in various materials. Although this work was of great interest, a desire to work with people took hold. This led to training to be a teacher, and consequently Robert wrote curriculum for the ASMS and taught as a secondary physics and mathematics teacher. Around this time, Robert also commenced training as a Jungian analyst in Switzerland. His earlier seeking to understand the depths of the physical world, were now accompanied by the same scrutiny of the inner world of the psyche. Something akin to following the (much larger) footsteps of the Nobel laureate Wolfgang Pauli, who, working with Carl Jung, attempted to bridge these two domains. This rich background offers many novel insights into the realm of education, creativity and learning which sit at the heart of Robert’s research interests.

Robert’s research focus is the application of analytical psychology into pathways of transformation in the Education and Research context.  Archetypal approaches to learning as articulated by Carl Jung, Mari-Louise von Franz and Wolfgang Pauli.  Creativity as transformative praxis of conscious and unconscious dynamics.  The role of religious or spiritual life in the transformative learning of educators.  The psychology of Kuhnian paradigm shifts in cultural thought of artists and scientists.  The nature of the teaching process and maintaining healthy complex personality structures in the face of difficult classroom experiences.  Life-long learning and personality development for educators.

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    The Flinders University of SA Australia PhD (Theoretical Physics)
    University of Adelaide Australia B.Sc (Hons)
    Unversity of Adelaide Australia Graduate Diploma Education
    Kranz International Australia Diploma Counselling and Communications

2014   Learning & Development Grant, Faculty of Professions, “Classroom dialogue – an online tool preparing Education students for teaching practice”, awarded $10,000.

2013    Executive Dean’s award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, awarded $2,000.

2013   Learning & Development Grant, Faculty of Professions, “Language and Professional Literacy Support for Education Students”, awarded $10,000.

2013    School of Education Grant, awarded $6,250.  “Exploring the practicum experience.”

Past Teaching:

Courses Coordinated Master of Education:  Theories of Psychology in Education, Neuroscience and Education, Alternative Education, Masters Dissertation.

Courses Coordinated Bachelor of Teaching / Graduate Diploma of Education / Master of Teaching: Educational Psychology, Student and Teacher Interaction in the Classroom, Alternative Education.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 Principal Supervisor Inner Transformation: Exploring the Relationship between Transformative Learning and Individuation Characteristics in Educators Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Xuanye Shen

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Creating Peace and Harmony in Indonesia: Education and the Role of Cultural Identity in Preventing/Countering Radicalisation and Violent Extremism Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Yuli Astiana
    2021 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Transition of Saudi Women Students in South Australia: Push-Pull Factors, Academic and Socio-cultural Experiences, Supporting Factors and Acculturation Strategies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Safiah Nasser M Hakami
    2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Vygotsky's theory as a tool of imagination development in primary school Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Valeriia Sibakova
    2014 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Inner Transformation: Exploring the Interrelationship between Transformative Learning and Religiosity among Change Agent Educators in Indonesia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Aryani Tri Wrastari
    2012 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Teacher Approachability in Higher Education:
    Determining its Characteristics and their Connection with Teacher Attachment Styles, Wellbeing and Spirituality    		 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Fizza Sabir
    2010 - 2012 Co-Supervisor The Study of English Literary Texts in a Monocultural Secondary School Context and Students Attitudes to the Cultural Other Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Mary Vlahakis
    2009 - 2011 Principal Supervisor Adelaide Secondary School Students Participation in Sport and their Cultural Identity: A Humanistic Sociological Study Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Vegnes Maniam
    2006 - 2011 Principal Supervisor Collaborative Interdisciplinary Publication Skills Education:
    Implementation and implications in international science research contexts    		 Doctor of Education Doctorate Part Time Dr Margaret Cargill
    2003 - 2007 Principal Supervisor Computer-Animated Instruction and Students' Conceptual Change in Electrochemistry Doctor of Education Doctorate Full Time Mr Othman Talib
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83130488
  • Email: robert.matthews@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83133604
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Nexus 10, floor 8
  • Org Unit: School of Education
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