Professor Caroline Crosthwaite BE(Hons), MEngSt (UQ), MSc. (JCU). Associate Dean (Academic) Faculty of Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology, University of Queensland. Caroline is a chemical engineer with over 30 years’ experience in engineering education and curriculum innovation. She has been involved in teaching, curriculum design and the development of student centred learning practices in engineering. She has published widely on project centred engineering education and has won UQ and national AAUT and AAEE awards for enhancement of student learning. Through the Associate Dean role Caroline champions teaching and learning innovation and development and active learning. Recent projects include the implementation of the Engineers without Borders National Design Challenge as part of the first year core engineering curriculum at UQ, and the development of Immersive Learning Environments in engineering using Virtual Reality . Caroline led the has recently completed Office of Learning & Teaching sponsored evaluation in 13 Australasian universities on the adoption of the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Challenge projects into first-year curricula as a model for widespread curriculum renewal in engineering education. Caroline has also led national work by the Australian Council of Engineering Deans and other engineering organisations investigating attrition and retention in Bachelor of Engineering degrees in Australia. She consults nationally and internationally on engineering education and curriculum redesign which includes work with IChemE in Malaysia, Imperial College London and Purdue University USA.
Book Chapter: Preparing engineers for 2035: transforming Australia’s engineering education for emerging roles and expectations
Lee, Peter, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Reidsema, Carl, Burnett, Ian, Foley, Bernadette, Hargreaves, Doug, King, Robin, Lamborn, Julia, Symes, Mark and Wilson, John (2022). Preparing engineers for 2035: transforming Australia’s engineering education for emerging roles and expectations. Applied Degree Education and the Future of Learning. (pp. 29-52) edited by Christina Hong and Will W. K. Ma. Singapore: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-9812-5_2
Conference Publication: Do as I say, not as I do: professional development of academics lacks contextualisation and sensitivity to discipline
Papinczak, Tracey, Kavanagh, Lydia, O'Moore, Liza, Reidsema, Carl and Crosthwaite, Caroline (2013). Do as I say, not as I do: professional development of academics lacks contextualisation and sensitivity to discipline. AAEE 2013: 24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 8-11 December 2013. Nathan, QLD, Australia: Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University.
Conference Publication: Improving teaching with research: the role for theory-driven evaluation
Jolly, Lesley, Brodie, Lyn, Prpic, Juliana Kaya, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Kavanagh, Lydia and Buys, Laurie (2013). Improving teaching with research: the role for theory-driven evaluation. Improving student learning through research and scholarship: 20 years of ISL, Lund, Sweden, 29-31 August 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford Brookes University.
TheJourneyMaker: Enhancing curriculum design, program analytics and the student experience
(2015–2016) Technology-Enhanced Learning Grants
Curriculum Renewal in Engineering Through Theory-Driven Evaluation
(2010–2011) ALTC Priority Projects
The engineering design journey
(2009–2010) ALTC Competitive Grants
King, Robin, Aubrey, Tim, Bradley, Alan, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Dansie, Brenton, Hadgraft, Roger, Jorgensen, David and Godfrey, Elizabeth (2011). Final Report 2011. Curriculum specification and support for engineering education: Understanding attrition, academic support, revised competencies, pathways and access. Strawberry Hills, NSW, Australia: Australian Learning and Teaching Council.
Lee, Peter, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Reidsema, Carl, Burnett, Ian, Foley, Bernadette, Hargreaves, Doug, King, Robin, Lamborn, Julia, Symes, Mark and Wilson, John (2022). Preparing engineers for 2035: transforming Australia’s engineering education for emerging roles and expectations. Applied Degree Education and the Future of Learning. (pp. 29-52) edited by Christina Hong and Will W. K. Ma. Singapore: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-9812-5_2
Cameron, Ian, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Shallcross, David, Hadgraft, Roger, Dalvean, Jo, Maynard, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses, Kavanagh, John and Lukey, Grant (2011). Addressing interdisciplinary process engineering design, construction and operations through 4D virtual environments. Computer aided chemical engineering. (pp. 1145-1149) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-54298-4.50008-8
Project Centered Learning in Chemical Engineering: An Australian Perspective
Crosthwaite, C A and Cameron, I T (2006). Project Centered Learning in Chemical Engineering: An Australian Perspective. Innovations 2006: World Innovations in Engineering Education and Research. (pp. 95-105) edited by Win Aung, Caroline Crosthwaite, Ramon Vasquez Espinosa, Jerzy Moscinski, Chan-Hwei Ou and Luis Manuel Sanchez Ruiz. USA: iNEER.
Norton, Christine, Cameron, Ian, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Balliu, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses, Shallcross, David, Hoadley, Andrew, Barton, Geoff and Kavanagh, John (2008). Development and deployment of an immersive learning environment for enhancing process systems engineering concepts. Education for Chemical Engineers, 3 (2), e75-e83. doi: 10.1016/j.ece.2008.04.001
Norton, Christine, Cameron, Ian, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Balliu, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses, Shallcross, David, Hoadley, Andrew, Barton, Geoff and Kavanagh, John (2008). Enhancing the understanding and insights of students and industry operators in process engineering principles via immersive 3D environments. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 25, 1175-1180. doi: 10.1016/S1570-7946(08)80202-7
Cameron, Ian, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Norton, Christine, Balliu, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses, Hoadley, Andrew, Shallcross, David and Barton, Geoff (2008). Development and deployment of a library of industrially focused advanced immersive VR learning environments. Advances in Engineering Education, 1 (2), 1-34.
Triple objective team mentoring: achieving learning objectives with chemical engineering students
Kavanagh, Lydia and Crosthwaite, Caroline (2007). Triple objective team mentoring: achieving learning objectives with chemical engineering students. Transactions of the Institution of Chemical Engineers D (Education for Chemical Engineers), 2 (1), 68-79. doi: 10.1205/ece06027
Crosthwaite, C., Cameron, I., Lant, P. and Litster, J. (2006). Balancing curriculum processes and content in a Project Centred Curriculum: in pursuit of graduate attributes. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 84 (7 A), 619-628. doi: 10.1205/cherd.ecesample0607
Crosthwaite, C A, Cameron, I T, Lant, P A and Litster, J D (2006). Balancing curriculum processes and content in a project centred curriculum - In pursuit of graduate attributes. Education for Chemical Engineers, 1 (1), 39-48. doi: 10.1205/ece.05002
Reflections on a Residential Orientation Program
Crosthwaite, C. A. and Churchward, G. (2000). Reflections on a Residential Orientation Program. Australasian. Journal of Engineering Education, 9 (1), 39-45.
Papinczak, Tracey, Kavanagh, Lydia, O'Moore, Liza, Reidsema, Carl and Crosthwaite, Caroline (2013). Do as I say, not as I do: professional development of academics lacks contextualisation and sensitivity to discipline. AAEE 2013: 24th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 8-11 December 2013. Nathan, QLD, Australia: Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University.
Improving teaching with research: the role for theory-driven evaluation
Jolly, Lesley, Brodie, Lyn, Prpic, Juliana Kaya, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Kavanagh, Lydia and Buys, Laurie (2013). Improving teaching with research: the role for theory-driven evaluation. Improving student learning through research and scholarship: 20 years of ISL, Lund, Sweden, 29-31 August 2012. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford Brookes University.
Curriculum design and higher order skills: challenging assumptions
Crosthwaite, Caroline, Jolly, Lesley, Kavanagh, Lydia, Brodie, Lyn, Buys, Laurie and Turner, Jennifer (2012). Curriculum design and higher order skills: challenging assumptions. International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education (EE2012), Coventry, United Kingdom, 18-20 September 2012. Leicestershire, United Kingdom: Loughborough University.
Jolly, Lesley, Brodie, Lyn, Prpic, Juliana Kaya, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Kavanagh, Lydia and Buys, Laurie (2012). Curriculum development and educational research: the barriers to good practice and what to do about them. 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2012), Melbourne, Australia, 3 - 5 December 2012. Melbourne, Australia: Swinburne University of Technology.
Crosthwaite, C., Jolly, L., Brodie, L., Kavanagh, L. and Buys, L. (2012). Making principled decisions about curriculum development: outcomes of a Realist evaluation across 13 universities. SEFI 40th Annual Conference, Thessaloniki, Greece, 23 - 26 September 2012. Brussels, Belgium: SEFI.
Supporting transition, engagement and retention in first year engineering
Crosthwaite, Caroline and Kavanagh, Lydia (2012). Supporting transition, engagement and retention in first year engineering. International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in Engineering Education (EE2012), Coventry, United Kingdom, 18-20 September 2012. Leicestershire, United Kingdom: Loughborough University.
The Teaching and Learning Development Program: an opportunity to excel?
Kavanagh, Lydia, O'Moore, Liza, Papinczak, Tracey, Reidsema, Carl and Crosthwaite, Caroline (2012). The Teaching and Learning Development Program: an opportunity to excel?. 23rd Annual Conference of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2012), Melbourne, Australia, 3 - 5 December 2012. Melbourne, Australia: Swinburne University of Technology.
Jolly, Lesley, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Brodie, Lyn, Kavanagh, Lydia and Buys, Laurie (2011). The impact of curriculum content in fostering inclusive engineering: Data from a national evaluation of the use of EWB projects in first year engineering. 22nd Annual Conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE), Fremantle, WA, Australia, 5-7 December 2011. Barton, ACT, Australia: Engineers Australia.
An evaluation of the EWB challenge-implications for future curriculum change.
Jolly, Lesley, Kavanagh, Lydia and Crosthwaite, Caroline A. (2010). An evaluation of the EWB challenge-implications for future curriculum change.. 21 Annual Conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education & 2010 Fall CD10 Collaborators' Meeting, University of Technology, Sydney, 5-8 December 2010. University of Technology, Sydney: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.
Shallcross, David, Lukey, Grant, Cameron, Ian, Crosthwaite, Carolyn, Maynard, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses and Kavanagh, John (2010). An immersive and interactive virtual reality learning environment based on the Coogee energy methanol plant. 40th Annual Australasian Chemical and Process Engineering Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 26-29 September 2010. Barton, ACT, Australia: Engineers Australia.
Optimizing retention in engineering education: What are realistic targets for diverse institutions?
Godfrey, Elizabeth, Crosthwaite, Caroline and King, Robin (2010). Optimizing retention in engineering education: What are realistic targets for diverse institutions?. 9th Annual ASEE Global Colloquium on Engineering Education, Singapore, Singapore, 18-21 October 2010.
Who leaves and when do they go? Retention and attrition in engineering education
Godfrey, Elizabeth, Aubrey, Tim, Crosthwaite, Caroline and King, Robin (2010). Who leaves and when do they go? Retention and attrition in engineering education. FIE 2010: 40th Annual Frontiers in Education Conference, Arlington, VA, U.S.A., 27-30 October 2010. San Diego, CA, U.S.A.: IEEE Education Society. doi: 10.1109/FIE.2010.5673625
A program logic approach to evaluating educational innovations
Crosthwaite, Caroline, Jolly, Lesley and Brown, Lizzie (2009). A program logic approach to evaluating educational innovations. REES 2009: The 2009 Research in Engineering Education Symposium, Palm Cove, QLD, Australia, 20-23 July 2009. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne.
Building on strength, understanding weakness: Realistic evaluation and program review
Jolly, Lesley, Crosthwaite, Caroline and Brown, Lizzie (2009). Building on strength, understanding weakness: Realistic evaluation and program review. AAEE09: 20th Annual Conference for the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 6-9 December 2009. Adelaide, SA, Australia: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Adelaide.
Norton, Christine, Cameron, Ian, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Balliu, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses, Shallcross, David, Hoadley, Andrew, Bartone, Geoff and Kavanagh, John (2008). Enhancing the Understanding and Insights of Students and Industry Operators in Process Engineering Principles via Immersive 3D Environments. 18th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE 18), Lyon, France, 1-4 June 2008. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S1570-7946(08)80202-7
Cameron, Ian, Norton, Christine, Crosthwaite, Caroline, Balliu, Nicoleta, Tade, Moses, Shallcross, David, Hoadley, Andrew and Barton, Geoff (2007). Development and Deployment of an Immersive Learning Environment for Enhancing Process Systems Engineering Concepts. Chemeca 2007: Academia and Industry Strengthening the Profession, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23-26 September 2007.
Changing a culture: Project centred curriculum
Crosthwaite, Caroline and Cameron, Ian (2006). Changing a culture: Project centred curriculum. 17th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Auckland, New Zealand, 10-13 December 2006. Auckland, New Zealand: Australasian Association for Engineering Education.
Actualising research-led teaching and learning within university curriculum
O'Brien, M., Byers, H. K., Huber, T. L., Jacobsen, I., Bulmer, M., Burgh, G., Crosthwaite, C. A., Harrison, J. and Hughes, C. P. (2005). Actualising research-led teaching and learning within university curriculum. Effective Teaching and Learning Conference, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 3-4 November, 2005.
An Immersive Learning Environment for Process Engineering using Real Time VR
Cameron, I.T., Crosthwaite, C. A., Donaldson, A., Samsudi, H. and Fry, M. (2005). An Immersive Learning Environment for Process Engineering using Real Time VR. 33rd Australasian Chemical Engineering Conference : CHEMECA 2005 : smart solutions, doing more with less, Brisbane, Australia, 25-28 September 2005.
Process and content - in pursuit of graduate attributes
Crosthwaite, C. A. and Cameron, I. T. (2005). Process and content - in pursuit of graduate attributes. 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering incorporating the g, Glasgow, Scotland, 10-14 July 2005. Scotland: IChemE.
Project centred-learning in Chemical Engineering - an Australian perspective
Crosthwaite, C. A. and Cameron, I. T. (2005). Project centred-learning in Chemical Engineering - an Australian perspective. International Conference on Engineering Education - Global Education Interlink, Gliwice, Poland, 25-29 July 2005. Gliwice, Poland: Silesian University of Technology.
An early introduction to simulation in a process systems analysis course
Crosthwaite, C. A. (2003). An early introduction to simulation in a process systems analysis course. AIChE '03 Annual Meeting, Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, USA, 16-21 November 2003. USA: AIChE.
Curriculum Diversity in a Common First Year
Crosthwaite, C. A. and Simmons, J. M. (2003). Curriculum Diversity in a Common First Year. 14th Annual AAEE Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, 29 September - 1 October 2003. Australia: Australasian Association for Engineering Education.
Embedding graduate attributes development using project centred curriculum
Litster, J. D., Lant, P. A., Crosthwaite, C. A. and Cameron, I. T. (2003). Embedding graduate attributes development using project centred curriculum. AIChE '03 Annual Meeting, Hilton Hotel, San Francisco, USA, 16-21 November 2003. USA: AIChE.
Starting to Belong: an O-Week Introduction to Engineering & Sustainability
Crosthwaite, C. A., Humphries, J., Jolly, L. and Radcliffe, D. F. (2003). Starting to Belong: an O-Week Introduction to Engineering & Sustainability. 14th Annual AAEE Conference, Melbourne, Victoria, 29 September - 1 October 2003. Australia: Australasian Association for Engineering Education.
Catalyzing cultural change in a research intensive University
Radcliffe, D. F., Crosthwaite, C. A. and Jolly, L. (2002). Catalyzing cultural change in a research intensive University. 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Jun1 16-19, 2002. USA: American Society for Engineering Education.
Implementing Graduate Attributes
Jolly, L., Radcliffe, D., Crosthwaite, Caroline Anne and Humphries, J. (2002). Implementing Graduate Attributes. 13th Annual Conference and Convention Australian Association of Engineering Education, Canberra, Australia, 30 September - 2 October 2002.
Undergraduate student perceptions of engineering
Jolly, L., Crosthwaite, C. A. and Radcliffe, D. F. (2002). Undergraduate student perceptions of engineering. 13th Annual Conference for Australasian Association for Enginm, Canberra, 30 September - 2 October. Canberra: I. E. Australia.
Written Communication Skills - A Graduate Outcome of Process Engineering Education?
Rounsefell, B., Crosthwaite, C. A. and Petelin, R. M. (2002). Written Communication Skills - A Graduate Outcome of Process Engineering Education?. Leadership in Learning: Learning in Leadership, Rydges Canberra, ACT, 30/09/02 - 02/20/02. Canberra, ACT: Australasian Association for Engineering.
Curriculum Design for Chemical Engineering Graduate Attributes
Crosthwaite, C. A., Cameron, I. T. and Lant, P. A. (2001). Curriculum Design for Chemical Engineering Graduate Attributes. World Congress of Chemical Engineering, Melbourne, 23rd - 27th September. Melbourne: I.E.Aust.
Curriculum Design for Chemical Engineering Graduate Attributes
Crosthwaite, C. A., Cameron, I. T. and Lant, P. A. (2000). Curriculum Design for Chemical Engineering Graduate Attributes. Effective Teaching and Learning Conference 2000, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 9 - 10 November 2000. Brisbane, Australia: TEDI (Teaching & Educational Development Institute), University of Queensland.
TheJourneyMaker: Enhancing curriculum design, program analytics and the student experience
(2015–2016) Technology-Enhanced Learning Grants
Curriculum Renewal in Engineering Through Theory-Driven Evaluation
(2010–2011) ALTC Priority Projects
The engineering design journey
(2009–2010) ALTC Competitive Grants
(2008–2011) ALTC Priority Projects
Evaluation and Development of the EWB Challenge in ENGG1000
(2008–2010) UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants
(2006–2008) Carrick Competitive Grants
Academic and professional writing requirements for process engineers: A comparative study.
(2001) University of Queensland Small Grants Scheme