Information for Image and Reflection Contributors

Research Project: Seeding and Socialising Hope in Online Higher Education: Guiding Learners and Educators Through Uncertain times

You are invited to contribute to the Pedagogies of Hope in Higher Education online symposium by sharing an image and a short reflection about hope in higher education. This Participant Information Sheet explains the research project associated with the symposium and how your contribution may be used if you consent to being involved in the research. Please read this information carefully before deciding whether to participate in the research. If you have any questions, please contact the research team. Participation in the research is voluntary. You may contribute to the symposium without agreeing to the future research use of your image or reflection.

Who is involved in this research project?

This research is being conducted by researchers from Massey University, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Michigan State University, USA, who together form the Hope Collective:

  • Massey University: A/P Alice Beban, A/P Elaine Khoo, Dr Clare M. Mouat, and Dr Lisa Vonk
  • Michigan State University: A/P Amanda Flaim and A/P Daniel Ahlquist

Why is the research being conducted?

The converging crises of climate change, COVID-19, poverty and war are changing people’s lives and shaping their experiences of the present and their possibilities for the future. While there is increasing research and discussion about climate anxiety, uncertainty and hopelessness among university students, there has been less research into hope and hope-related approaches to transforming higher education teaching, learning and educational practice. This project brings together the Hope Collective to develop a research platform and an international community of practice focused on pedagogies of hope in higher education. You can find out more about our research agenda through the Hope in Higher Education – Massey University website. One current phase of the project is an international online symposium, Pedagogies of Hope in Higher Education. The symposium provides an opportunity for educators, researchers and others interested in higher education to share ideas and experiences about hope.

What will I be asked to do?

As a symposium contributor, you are invited to submit:

  • an image (for example, a photograph, artwork, drawing or collage) that captures how you understand, experience or practise hope in higher education; and
  • a short written, audio or video reflection explaining your image and/or your understanding of hope in higher education.

Your contribution will provide a starting point for discussion during the online symposium and will be displayed on the symposium website. Please do not include confidential or identifying information about students, colleagues or other people unless you have their permission to do so.

How may my image and reflection be used?

Your contribution will be used for the symposium as described above. When you submit your image and reflection, you will also be asked whether you give permission for your contribution to be included in the research project. You will be able to choose one of the following options:

  1. Yes, with my name attributed – you agree that your image and reflection may be used in future research and scholarly outputs for this research project, with your name included.
  2. Yes, without my name attributed – you agree that your image and reflection may be used in future research outputs for this research project, but your name will not be included.
  3. No, symposium use only – you agree to your image and reflection being used for the symposium, but do not give permission for their future research use.

Choosing not to permit research use of your contribution will not affect your participation in the symposium.

Research arising from the symposium may contribute to scholarly and educational outputs including: exhibitions, journal articles, conference presentations, teaching resources, books or book chapters, open-access educational resources, and other scholarly outputs relating to pedagogies of hope. Images will only be reproduced in these outputs where the contributor has given permission through the image submission form. Copyright in original creative work remains with the creator.

Are there any risks?

This is considered a low-risk research activity. Because contributions to the symposium may be presented online, the research team cannot guarantee that other participants or members of the public will not remember, copy, download, share or repeat material that is made available through the symposium. You should therefore avoid sharing information that you would not want others to know, particularly confidential or identifying information about yourself, students, colleagues or other third parties. You should also consider whether your image or reflection contains information that could identify you or another person. Although you may choose not to have your name attributed to your contribution, this does not guarantee that the contribution itself will be anonymous.

What happens to the information collected?

Research material will be stored securely and accessed only by authorised members of the research team. Images and accompanying reflections will be used in accordance with the choices you make on the submission form. Research data will be stored securely on password-protected university systems and will be retained and securely deleted in accordance with Massey University research data requirements and applicable university policies.

Who can I contact?

If you have questions about the research, please contact the Hope Collective: hopeinhighered@gmail.com

Approval to conduct this research has been provided by Massey University (400030923) in accordance with its ethics review and approval procedures. Any person considering participation in this research project, or agreeing to participate, may raise any questions or issues with the researchers at any time. Any person not satisfied with the response of researchers may raise ethics issues or concerns and may make any complaints about this research project by contacting the Human Ethics Office at Massey University by emailing humanethics@massey.ac.nz. All research participants are entitled to retain a copy of any Participant Information Form and/or Participant Consent Form relating to this research project.