Rob Strathdee

Professor Rob Strathdee serves as Executive Dean of the College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT and Vice President of the Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities Cluster at Victoria University (VU), Australia. Appointed Dean in 2017 and VP in 2018, he oversees research in law, business, engineering, and science. His academic leadership spans institutions across New Zealand and Australia, including Victoria University of Wellington and RMIT.

His educational qualifications include:

• PhD from University of Canterbury, Christchurch
• MEd from University of Canterbury, Christchurch
• Diploma of Teaching from Christchurch College of Education
• BEd from University of Canterbury, Christchurch

Strathdee's research centers on the sociology of work, critically examining vocational education systems, transitions to labor markets, and market-driven reforms in education. His work exposes how neo-liberal policies exacerbate inequalities, particularly in New Zealand's educational landscape, with recent focus shifting to Australian vocational education reform. He investigates ethnic disparities in educational access, graduate earnings differentials, and the socio-spatial dimensions of university aspirations.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals persistent themes of equity disruption through marketization, with methodological diversity spanning logistic regression, policy critique, and socio-economic analysis. The work increasingly addresses Australian contexts while maintaining critical focus on Māori and Pasifika student experiences in New Zealand.

No scientific awards were documented in available sources.

Strathdee secured a $20,000 research grant from the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) in 2016. While specific doctoral advisees aren't listed, his editorial board positions and leadership roles indicate substantial mentorship of early-career researchers. His research portfolio demonstrates sustained engagement with educational equity through institutional leadership and scholarly critique.

No dedicated research laboratories or specialized teams were identified in the source materials.