Rate My Professor Ray OBrien

O'Brien's research is practice-based, focusing on education's potential for transformational impact, particularly through complexity theory, futures studies, and decolonised design in learning contexts. He explores how these fields can empower learning designers as leaders. Key publications include "Designing for heutagogy: An independent learning pathway approach" (2017, with S. Mann, G. Ker, P. Eden-Mann; 32 citations), "Highly Structured ePortfolio Platform for Bachelor of Nursing Students: Lessons Learned in Implementation" (2018, with E. Collins; 18 citations), "The centralisation of elearning resource development within the New Zealand vocational tertiary education sector" (2019, with M. Hartnett, P. Rawlins; 14 citations), "Speculative futuring: Learners as experts on their own futures" (2021, with A. Forbes; 11 citations), and more recent works such as "Food waste initiatives in the tertiary sector in Aotearoa New Zealand: The challenge of meeting SDG 12.3" (2023, with B. Mills, M. Mirosa, S. Skeaff) and "Leadership by Learning Design: embrace complexity where it exists" (2025, with S. Mann, R. Mitchell). In his leadership role, O'Brien directs a team handling greenhouse gas emissions, student engagement, and communications, bridging operational and academic efforts to embed sustainable practices across the University under its Sustainability Strategic Framework. He contributes to networks like He Kaupapa Hononga, Otago's climate change research group.