Rate My Professor Amanda Cooke

Amanda Cooke serves as the Placement Coordinator in the Faculty of Science at the University of Queensland. In this role, she facilitates professional experience opportunities, known as work-integrated learning (WIL), for undergraduate and postgraduate students across various science disciplines. These include environmental management, agriculture, veterinary science, and related fields. Cooke coordinates industry placements that provide students with practical on-the-job training, project-based experience, industry connections, and the development of both discipline-specific skills and transferable competencies essential for professional practice.

A significant example of her impact is her involvement in partnerships like that with the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ). In 2018, Cooke represented the University of Queensland at the presentation of the Australian Collaborative Education Network (ACEN) Local Hero Award to WPSQ. This award acknowledged WPSQ's hosting of 22 Bachelor of Environmental Management (Honours) students since 2014, equating to approximately eight percent of all such placements facilitated through the program. These placements have enabled students to gain insights into professional obligations while working on real-world environmental projects. UQ alumni who benefited include Alexandra Brown, Courtney Peirce, and Nathan Cooper in 2016. Peirce described her placement as 'invaluable,' praising the 'knowledgeable and dedicated team' and noting how it 'fortified [her] career interest in environmental management.' For her own contributions to innovative teaching and learning practices, Cooke received a commendation in the Innovation category at the 2020 UQ Awards for Excellence. Her work strengthens the bridge between academia and industry, significantly boosting student employability within the Faculty of Science.