Research That Drives Practice
GCWAL's research is practitioner-led, not academically-driven. Every study, publication, and research initiative begins with a real organisational challenge — and is designed to produce change that actually holds.
Over 40 years, Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham and the GCWAL research team have developed, tested, and continuously refined the Work-Applied Learning model across private, public, and community organisations in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and beyond. The methodology integrates Action Research, Action Learning, and Reflective Practice — applied not in theory, but in live organisational environments with real managers leading real change.
The result is a growing body of peer-reviewed, published research that underpins every WAL programme GCWAL delivers and licenses. Research here is not a separate function — it is the foundation of the model itself and the reason organisations can trust what they are licensing.
Research at a Glance
Research Focus Areas
- Individual change through Work-Applied Learning
- Manager and team-led organisational change
- Application of AI in practitioner research
- Action Research methodology and design
- WAL change model development and programme quality
Leading the Research Direction
GCWAL's research is led by practitioners with deep field experience. Our research fellows work directly with the WAL model in applied settings — bridging methodology and real-world organisational change.
Dr Alan Barnes
Dr Barnes is a former senior lecturer and research fellow at the University of South Australia, holding a PhD in Mathematical Physics. He brings extensive experience in research management, learning technologies, quantitative methods, and the application of cognitive technologies to learning environments.
He currently leads GCWAL's research into the application of Artificial Intelligence within organisational adaptation, practitioner research, and research management — connecting emerging technologies directly to the WAL change model and ensuring the methodology remains at the frontier of applied practice.
Dr Carmel Taddeo
Research Fellow
Director of CMT Accessible Research and senior lecturer at the University of South Australia. Over three decades as educator, researcher, and change analyst. Expertise across quantitative and qualitative methodologies including survey design, path modelling, and policy-informed research.
Dr Juhani Tuovinen
Research Fellow
Former Professor and Dean of Education at Sheridan Institute of Higher Education. Research focus on the cognitive aspects of learning and practical methods for improving learning in practitioner development.
Emeritus Prof Rod Oxenberry
Research Fellow
Education and management consultant specialising in leadership mentoring, management development, and higher education recognition. Has supervised PhD and DBA candidates in leadership and strategic management.
Dr Joseph Khan
Research Fellow
World-class project management facilitator and practitioner with 20 years of consulting experience across Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, and Suriname. DBA from the Australian School of Business, Adelaide. PMP® and Certified Scrum Master.
Brig Gen Dato' Dr A Halim Basari
Research Fellow
Former Brigadier General in the Malaysian Armed Forces and pioneer of military pharmacy in Malaysia. PhD in Healthcare Supply Chain Management from AIB. Graduate Diploma in Logistics Science (Distinction), Anglia Polytechnic University.
Contributing Academics
GCWAL's research has been strengthened over decades through academic collaboration with leading scholars in Work-Based Learning and Action Research from institutions across Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally.
Prof Peter O'Brien
Flinders University
Profs Perry & Ritchie
Southern Cross University
Profs Zuber-Skerritt & Passfield
Griffith University
Profs Garnett & Costley
Middlesex University
Prof Tony Wall
Liverpool John Moores University
Prof Rod Oxenberry
University of South Australia
Validated by Senior Leaders
One of the strongest proofs of the WAL change model is the leaders who have used it themselves. The following senior executives — including multiple Chief Executives, a Commissioner, and a Chairman — completed their own doctoral research using the WAL methodology.
A further 50 senior and middle managers have completed WAL Practitioner Research Masters studies — 19 through University Malaysia Sarawak and 31 through the Australian Institute of Business.
Collaborative Research & Development
GCWAL collaborates with higher education institutions, organisations, and subject experts to conduct research in Work-Applied Learning. Collaboration and dissemination of ideas are at the core of GCWAL's success.
Partnership Opportunities
- Joint research projects in organisational change
- Co-branded conferences on management development
- Cross-promotion of research publications
- Academic collaboration and knowledge sharing
ALARA — Action Learning Action Research Association
GCWAL–ALARA Alliance
Strategic partnership with the Action Learning, Action Research Association Ltd (ALARA), formed in 1991.
Collaborative Activities
- Co-badged certifications
- Joint research projects
- Co-branded conferences
- Journal cross-promotion
WAL Publications
Browse the books, journal articles, conference papers, and doctoral theses that form the evidence base of the WAL change model.