Thursday Keynote: Can academics be influencers too? The role of social media in higher education - Associate Professor Amanda White, OAM, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
| Thursday, July 10, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| BelleVue Ballroom 2 - Level 3 |
Overview
BelleVue Ballroom 2 - Level 3
Details
Social media has reshaped how people consume information - not just in entertainment and fashion, but in education as well. In the past, confused students might have turned to an academic’s office hours, the library, or peers. Today, they’re more likely to seek answers from TikTok influencers, YouTube educators, or generative AI tools. This shift in knowledge acquisition and help seeking is occurring alongside a broader cultural decline in public trust - particularly in institutions, authority figures, and academia itself - especially among Gen Z.
This keynote will explore the emerging role of academics as influencers in digital spaces, and how the parasocial relationships students develop with educators online can enhance motivation and engagement. Drawing on research, case studies, and personal experience, Amanda will unpacks the opportunities and ethical challenges of using social media and digital platforms to meaningfully connect with students, and how educators can shape their digital presence to become trusted, credible voices in students' learning journeys.
Speaker
Assoc Prof Amanda White
University Of Technology Sydney
Can academics be influencers too? The role of social media in higher education
11:00 AM - 12:00 PMBiography
Associate Professor Amanda White OAM is the Deputy Associate Dean Education (Learner Experience) at the UTS Business School – but is probably more well known to the internet and accounting students around the world as Amanda Loves to Audit. She was the first education-focused academic appointed in the UTS Business School and her portfolio as Deputy Associate Dean Education focuses on improving the learner experience both within and outside of curriculum, to support the engagement and success of the Business School’s 13,000 students. Amanda also teaches an intake of 1700+ commencing students in introductory accounting. Her dedication to student learning has been recognised with both a Citation and Australian Teaching Excellence Award from the Australian Awards for University Teaching (2017, 2020) and a Medal in the Order of Australia (2024).
