Master of Research
Join us to shape the future of leadership in Tasmania with an opportunity to deepen your leadership expertise through enrolling in a Master of Research in collaboration with the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics at the University of Tasmania.
At Tasmanian Leaders, we are committed to fostering purposeful and inclusive leadership that enhances economic, social, and environmental wellbeing.
In collaboration with the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics researchers Professor David Adams, Dr Joseph Crawford, and Dr Toby Newstead, we plan to launch a small cohort of Master of Commerce research projects focused on leadership in Tasmania during 2025.
Following are seven broad themes, an example of a topic areas, possible methods, and data collection. It is useful to note that these are guides and are likely to support final conversations between possible candidates and the supervision team.
| Theme | Possible Topics | Data Collection | Data Analysis |
| Place-based Leadership | How can place-based leadership be leveraged to facilitate long term foresight and visioning in island and regional communities like Tasmania? | Interviews, ethnography, or focus groups | Phenomenology, discourse analysis, or thematic analysis |
| Leadership Development Evaluation | How reliable and valid are the current evaluation processes for leadership programs in Tasmania, and what enhancements can better measure their economic, social, or environmental impacts? | Survey and/or secondary data analysis | Structural equation modelling or regression |
| Context for Leadership | What are the primary challenges (e.g., polarisation, complexity, declining trust, or resilience needs) experienced by Tasmanian leaders, and what opportunities are there to overcome them? | Survey or interviews | Inferential statistics, multiple regression, structural equation modelling, or thematic analysis |
| Followership | How is followership understood and enacted in Tasmania? What is the current state of followership in Tasmania? | Survey or interviews | Inferential statistics, multiple regression, or thematic analysis |
| Leadership Theory & Practice | How do experiences of leadership in Tasmania align to – or differ from – current or emerging leadership theory? | Interviews, ethnography, or focus groups | Phenomenology, content analysis, or thematic analysis |
| Leadership Skills Forecasting | What data-driven approaches can forecast future leadership skills needs in specific sectors or regions, and how can these insights inform effective workforce planning and leadership development strategies? | Survey and/or secondary data analysis | Structural equation modelling, machine learning, or multiple regression |
| Leadership across the lifespan | How does leadership develop or differ across the lifespan? What strategies at what points might best support lifelong leadership development? | Survey or interviews | Structural equation modelling, latent profile analysis, or thematic analysis |
If you have an interest in undertaking one of these projects as a Masters candidate, it is useful to reflect on the key area of the topic, any specific approaches to addressing the topic that are of particular interest to you and your development as an evidence-based leader; as this can help to frame the initial conversation with a possible supervisor. Following, we answer a few questions frequently asked about the program.
What is the commitment?
For most candidates, there will be a considerable amount of reading, but if you already have effective reading habits, substituting James Patterson’s latest novel for a pile of scholarly papers may be a great step in the right direction. Candidates meet with a supervisory team, either by Zoom (if located outside Launceston), or by a combination of Zoom and face-to-face (if in Launceston) every two to three weeks.
As a Masters student, all individuals complete a two-day intensive called XGR501 designed to equip you with key research resources. In 2025, this intensive is June 3 and June 5; students will also be part of a cohort program with regular seminars led by the supervision team to support a cohesive leadership research program. Masters are for between 1 year and 2 years, but most complete in a little more than 1 year.
What will this cost?
For Tasmanians (citizens or permanent residents), there is no additional direct cost attached to this program beyond the time commitment at the moment, the Australian Government funds your place. You may need to discuss with your manager about supporting time for your research/development, but remaining in active employment is assumed as part of industry projects.
Am I eligible for a Masters?
While some recent experience in University is helpful, you will be assessed for your current experience and suitability, noting that Tasmanian Leaders graduation is likely to significantly contribute to your eligibility to study at this level.
How do I apply?
To express interest, answer the following questions back to Tasmanian Leaders (in no more than 2 pages, but around 1 page is sufficient) before 30 March 2025:
- Which topic area are you interested in, and why?
- Are there any data collection and methods you think are most appropriate to your development and the study itself?
- Can you tell us about your formal educational background, relevant work and other learning experiences to help us assess eligibility?
- You will have around three months from March to formally commence. If successful, when would be your preferred commencement date?
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angela Driver at 0417 379 703 or via email – angela.driver@tasmanianleaders.org.au.