Research Fellow
Overview
Azhar is a behavioural, experimental and applied economist with a keen interest in addressing issues of societal disadvantage and inequality. He especially seeks opportunities to explore real-world problems in the field of education and matters relating to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. Azhar has a strong understanding of, and experience in using, empirical research methods to evaluate programs and administrative data. He has developed an extensive aptitude for designing and implementing experimental studies in field and lab settings alike, as well as using sound econometric analysis techniques to evaluate the outcomes of such experiments. Azhar completed his Ph.D. from the Queensland University of Technology in 2019, and his research was aimed at assessing the framing effects of different incentive structures and student commitments on educational outcomes of Indigenous Australian high school students.
Prior to his Ph.D. work, Azhar spent an extended period living and working in remote Indigenous communities on Queensland’s Cape York where he designed and implemented financial literacy programs for the benefit of socially-disadvantaged residents. This experience was a key driving factor in his decision to study and address real-world issues. Azhar is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between academic research and industry. For a social organisation working on matters affecting disadvantaged people in the real world, incorporating a strategic research component into their work is crucial in his eyes and he strives to develop such collaborative links and networks.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Qld. UT
- Master of Business Economics (Advanced), The University of Queensland
Publications
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Journal Article: Emotional quality of early education programs improves language learning: A within‐child across context design
Rankin, Peter Sheldon, Staton, Sally, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Houen, Sandy and Thorpe, Karen (2022). Emotional quality of early education programs improves language learning: A within‐child across context design. Child Development. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13811
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Other Outputs: Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools: Queensland replication study progress report - Number 2 (Feb 2022)
Povey, Jenny, Kennedy, Lizzie, Potia, Azhar, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Staton, Sally, Cook, Steffi, Bellotti, Melindy, Austerberry, Sophie and San Martin Porter, Macarena (2022). Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools: Queensland replication study progress report - Number 2 (Feb 2022). Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Journal Article: Nappies, books and wrinkles: how children, qualifications and age affect female underemployment in Australia
Kler, Parvinder, Potia, Azhar Hussain and Shankar, Sriram (2021). Nappies, books and wrinkles: how children, qualifications and age affect female underemployment in Australia. Economic and Industrial Democracy. doi: 10.1177/0143831x211064335
Grants
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(2021–2022) Education Horizon
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(2020–2022) University of Newcastle
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Evaluation of the Queensland KindyLinQ Pilot Program
(2020–2022) Social Ventures Australia
Publications
Journal Article
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Rankin, Peter Sheldon, Staton, Sally, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Houen, Sandy and Thorpe, Karen (2022). Emotional quality of early education programs improves language learning: A within‐child across context design. Child Development. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13811
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Kler, Parvinder, Potia, Azhar Hussain and Shankar, Sriram (2021). Nappies, books and wrinkles: how children, qualifications and age affect female underemployment in Australia. Economic and Industrial Democracy. doi: 10.1177/0143831x211064335
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We didn't plan for this - but we led and learned: ARTIE Academy and COVID-19
Potia, Azhar Hussain, Page, Steven, Mooney, Rebeckah, Dennis, Phil, Menner, Ryan and Thorpe, Karen (2020). We didn't plan for this - but we led and learned: ARTIE Academy and COVID-19. Australian Educational Leader, 42 (3), 53-55.
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Underemployment in Australia: a panel investigation
Kler, Parvinder, Potia, Azhar Hussain and Shankar, Sriram (2018). Underemployment in Australia: a panel investigation. Applied Economics Letters, 25 (1), 24-28. doi: 10.1080/13504851.2017.1290770
Other Outputs
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Povey, Jenny, Kennedy, Lizzie, Potia, Azhar, Tomaszewski, Wojtek, Staton, Sally, Cook, Steffi, Bellotti, Melindy, Austerberry, Sophie and San Martin Porter, Macarena (2022). Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools: Queensland replication study progress report - Number 2 (Feb 2022). Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Smith, Simon , Salom, Caroline , Shanon, Edmed , Marrington, Shelby , Mamun, Abdullah , Huda, M. Mamun , Potia, Azhar Hussain , Thorpe, Karen , Cross, Donna and Runions, Kevin (2021). Overarching Evaluation of the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program – final report. Canberra, Australia: Department of Heath.
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Povey, J., Kennedy, E. , Potia, A. H., Bellotti, M., Cook, S., Tomaszewski, W. and Staton, S. (2021). Building capacity for quality teaching in Australian schools: Queensland replication study progress report June 2021. Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR): The University of Queensland.
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BeYou Value for Money (VfM) conceptual framework
Potia, Azhar Hussain, Brown, Richard and Smith, Simon (2021). BeYou Value for Money (VfM) conceptual framework. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Emerging Minds Value for Money (VfM) conceptual framework
Potia, Azhar Hussain, Brown, Richard and Smith, Simon (2021). Emerging Minds Value for Money (VfM) conceptual framework. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Quantitative evaluation of the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy program
Potia, Azhar Hussain , Beatton, Tony , Tomaszewski, Wojtek , Moran, Mark and Thorpe, Karen (2021). Quantitative evaluation of the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy program. Brisbane, Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Educational outcomes of Queensland's investment in early childhood education and care (2007- 2020)
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). Educational outcomes of Queensland's investment in early childhood education and care (2007- 2020). Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Indigenous students: prep and NAPLAN results
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). Indigenous students: prep and NAPLAN results. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Indigenous students: prep and educational outcomes
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). Indigenous students: prep and educational outcomes. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Queensland State School students: Prep and NAPLAN results
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). Queensland State School students: Prep and NAPLAN results. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Queensland State School students: prep and educational outcomes
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). Queensland State School students: prep and educational outcomes. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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The most disadvantaged students: prep and NAPLAN results
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). The most disadvantaged students: prep and NAPLAN results. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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The most disadvantaged students: prep and educational outcomes
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Beatton, Tony, Rankin, Peter and Staton, Sally (2020). The most disadvantaged students: prep and educational outcomes. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Potia, Azhar Hussain, Brown, Richard and Smith, Simon (2020). Evaluation of the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program: value for money literature review. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research.
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Rewarding commitment to attend school: a field study with Indigenous Australian high school students
Potia, Azhar Hussain, Silva-Goncalves, Juliana, Torgler, Benno and Dulleck, Uwe (2019). Rewarding commitment to attend school: a field study with Indigenous Australian high school students. LCC Working Paper Series. 2019-27. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Kler, Parvinder, Potia, Azhar Hussain and Shankar, Sriram (2019). Nappies, books and wrinkles: how children, qualifications and age affect female underemployment in Australia. LCC Working Paper Series. 2019-24. Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Measuring Goodstart children’s progress and outcomes
Thorpe, Karen, Azhar Hussain Potia, Rankin, Peter, Beatton, Tony and Staton, Sally (2019). Measuring Goodstart children’s progress and outcomes. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Test cases for using Goodstart data
Thorpe, Karen, Potia, Azhar Hussain, Rankin, Peter, Beatton, Tony and Staton, Sally (2019). Test cases for using Goodstart data. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland.
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Potia, Azhar H. (2019). Improving educational outcomes using commitments and unconditional incentives: three empirical essays. PhD Thesis, School of Economics and Finance, Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/thesis.eprints.125476
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Azhar Hussain Potia (2010). Discussion on the clean development mechanism, environmental research joint ventures and international emission trading mechanism. Master's Thesis, School of Economics, The University of Queensland.
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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(2021–2022) Education Horizon
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(2020–2022) University of Newcastle
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Evaluation of the Queensland KindyLinQ Pilot Program
(2020–2022) Social Ventures Australia
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Evaluation of the Beyond the Broncos Girls Academy Program
(2019–2020) Brisbane Broncos Rugby League Club Limited
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(2018–2021) Commonwealth Department of Health
