Rate My Professor Michael Whelan

Dr Michael Whelan serves as Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Southern Cross University, having previously held positions as Senior Lecturer and School Director of Teaching and Learning in the School of Environment, Science and Engineering. His academic qualifications include Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Queensland, Master of Science from Southern Cross University, and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of New England awarded in 2014. With a career spanning over 34 years in higher education, Whelan began in agricultural science developing software for farmers in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales before transitioning to teaching computing and environmental science subjects to diverse student cohorts, from recent high school graduates to mature-age learners from hospitality and labouring backgrounds. He coordinates the internship unit, establishing it as a key pathway to employment through strong industry partnerships.

Whelan's research interests centre on work-integrated learning (WIL), graduate employability, and environmental science topics including estuaries, plant communities, riparian vegetation, and land use change. Notable publications include 'Conservation Atlas of Plant Communities in Australia' (1995, cited 115 times), 'A Physical Classification of Australian Estuaries' (1999, cited 86 times), 'Academic Work-Integrated Learning (WIL): Reengaging Teaching-Focused Academics with Industry' (2017), 'Road Testing Graduate Attributes and Course Learning Outcomes of an Environmental Science Degree via a Work-Integrated Learning Placement' (2017), and 'Soil Erosion Response to Land Use Change in a Mountainous Rural Area of Son La Province of Vietnam' (2022). In 2020, he received the Australian Awards for University Teaching Citation for enhancing student employability in Environmental Science through curriculum innovations involving employer engagement and compulsory Geographical Information Systems training, which increased graduate employability by over 50 percent. Over 80 percent of his internship cohorts receive job offers from placement hosts, with alumni employed worldwide in aquaculture, national parks, environmental consulting, government, and high-tech laboratories. Whelan has served on the board of the Australian Collaborative Education Network, contributing to the national WIL strategy.