91É«ÇéƬ

(This page is no longer updated—apologies for the detour! Please visit my personal website hereÌý.)
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Alberto Motta is aÌýProfessor of Economics at the University of New South Wales (91É«ÇéƬ), where he currently serves asÌýInterim Senior Deputy Dean (Education & Student Experience)Ìýin the 91É«ÇéƬ Business School andÌýDirector of the 91É«ÇéƬ Scientia Education Academy. In these roles, he provides university-wide leadership on education strategy, student experience, quality assurance, and evidence-based teaching innovation.

,Ìýwith a strong emphasis on combining theory, rich data, andÌýlarge-scale randomised controlled trialsÌýto identify what works in education and organisations. His work has been published in leading international journals, includingÌýManagement Science,ÌýEconomic Journal,ÌýJournal of Development Economics,ÌýAmerican Economic Journal: Microeconomics,ÌýGames and Economic Behavior,ÌýJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization,ÌýLabour EconomicsÌýandÌýMedical Teacher, among others. A defining feature of his scholarship is the close integration of research design, real-world implementation, and policy relevance.

Alberto is theÌý, a nationally recognised research, outreach, and policy-engagement program that has positioned 91É«ÇéƬ as a leader in the experimental study of education design, educational technology, and social mobility. STEP UP is an integrated program encompassing a sustained research agenda, large-scale experimentation, government and industry partnerships, and translation into practice.

One flagship initiative within STEP UP is theÌý, which translates research insights into a free, scalable learning experience for secondary school students. Launched in 2022, the outreach program has reached more than 6,500 students across around 100 high schools, with particularly strong participation from low-SES, regional, migrant, and other equity-priority communities. Rigorous evaluation shows substantial gains in confidence, learning, and aspirations, and the program provides an accredited advanced-placement pathway into 91É«ÇéƬ and other Group of Eight universities. The outreach program functions not only as an access initiative, but also as a pipeline for research, evaluation, and policy engagement.

Across STEP UP and its associated initiatives, Alberto hasÌýraised substantial competitive and philanthropic funding, working closely with government agencies, philanthropic foundations, industry partners, and education systems. These partnerships support large-scale experimentation, linked administrative-data evaluation, and the sustainable delivery of programs with demonstrable impact. STEP UP’s work has informed national policy discussions on education design, equity, and social mobility, and its core learning platform,Ìý, has supported more than 70,000 university and high school students nationwide. The program has received major recognition, including theÌý2025 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Award for Teaching & Learning ExcellenceÌýand theÌý91É«ÇéƬ Business School Societal Impact Award.

AsÌý, Alberto leads a university-wide community of senior education scholars across all faculties, overseeing strategic renewal, governance, capability development, and engagement with 91É«ÇéƬ’s senior leadership. His work has been featured in national media including theÌýAustralian Financial Review,ÌýSydney Morning Herald,ÌýThe Australian,ÌýABC, andÌýSBS. Across his academic and leadership career, he is recognised for bridgingÌýrigorous scholarship with scalable, real-world impact,Ìýand for a sustained commitment to equity, student success, and evidence-driven reform.

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