معرفی
Dr. Merete Schmidt is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Tasmania's School of Social Sciences, based at the Cradle Coast Campus in Burnie. She has established herself as an expert in sociology of education, with particular focus on educational equity in regional contexts, rural sociology, and gender studies. Her work emphasizes community partnered research and place-based learning approaches.
Merete completed her undergraduate degree in Scandinavian Languages and Literature, specializing in sociolinguistics, at the University of Aarhus (Denmark) in 2004. She then pursued Honours in Sociology and completed her PhD in Sociology at the University of Tasmania (Australia) in 2016.
Dr. Schmidt's research focuses on the sociology of education, particularly examining educational aspirations, equity and access to education in regional contexts. She investigates how rural and regional settings impact educational opportunities and outcomes, with attention to intersectional diversity including gender, ethnicity, First Nations status, caring and cultural responsibilities, first-in-families, disability and low socio-economic status. Her work emphasizes the critical role of regional university campuses in providing accessible higher education and creating local solutions through place-based research and community engagement.
Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on regional education challenges and solutions, with particular attention to the experiences of students from diverse backgrounds on regional university campuses. She examines how place-based education can address educational inequities while fostering community development and regional agency. Her work bridges sociology, education policy, and community development, often employing qualitative methodologies that center community voices.
Dr. Schmidt has received numerous teaching awards recognizing her interactive and collaborative approach to engaging students in sociology:
- Teaching Commendation for HGA101 Sociology: Understanding the Social World (August 2024)
- Teaching Commendation for HGA102: Sociology: Experiencing Social Life (January 2024)
- Teaching Commendation (December 2023)
- Teaching Commendation (July 2023)
- Teaching Commendation (January 2020)
- Teaching Recommendation (Team) (June 2019)
- Teaching Merit Certificate (February 2019)
- Teaching Merit Certificate (Individual) (June 2015)
- Teaching Merit Certificate (Individual) (June 2013)
As a supervisor, Dr. Schmidt currently mentors doctoral students researching 'Exploring the Intersection of Dementia, Aged Care, and Cultural Safety' and 'Pentecostal Churches in Tasmania.' She previously supervised Line Lindgaard Andersen's doctoral research on 'Rural Innovation Strategies.' Her grant history includes the Spencer Foundation-funded 'Studying Regionally' project examining regional campus student experiences across three Australian states, as well as multiple University of Tasmania internal grants supporting innovation in teaching, learning, and research through the Cradle Coast Academic Community of Practice.
Dr. Schmidt is an active member of the Cradle Coast Academic Community of Practice, which she chaired from 2016, and the Cradle Coast Leadership Group. This community of practice facilitates monthly seminars connecting academia, community, and industry through knowledge sharing, peer mentoring, and research collaboration focused on place-based approaches to regional challenges.
