Abstract
Karen Sutherland shares her journey as a social media pedagogy researcher, reflecting on her undergraduate experiences, diverse roles in marketing and communication, and transition to higher education. While working as a Research Communication Manager at Monash University, Dr. Sutherland discovered her passion for research. The chapter highlights two key studies by Dr. Sutherland. The first explores students' perspectives on social media education, revealing their belief that universities should provide such education to enhance employability. The second study examines employers' views on social media skills and behaviours of job candidates and employees, emphasising the importance of social media presence and skills in recruitment. Dr. Sutherland also discusses a study with academics, revealing their concerns about privacy and security issues associated with social media use and their limited utilisation of social media for student relationship management. Her research encompasses diverse perspectives, including those of students, employers and academics. It emphasises the need for a deeper understanding of social media communication skills to prepare current students, graduates and future leaders. The chapter concludes by mentioning her ongoing research project, conducting livestream interviews with graduates to gain insights into their career journeys and acquired skills in studying social media. In summary, Dr. Karen Sutherland's research journey highlights the significance of social media education for students, employers and academics. It underscores the need for further exploration in the field and potential external funding for social media pedagogy.