Sally Male

I have the Chair in Engineering Education.

My overarching ambition, that motivates my research and activities, is to give engineering students the best possible opportunity to develop their capabilities and strengthen their personal qualities for successful lives contributing professional leadership and general benefit to a well-functioning society. I undertake research in engineering education, higher education, and women in engineering. I have completed projects to improve engineering curricula and gender inclusion in engineering and computing.

I use quantitative and qualitative methods, and have worked with engineers at all levels, academics and students.

I welcome applications from people interested in completing a PhD in engineering education or women in engineering.

I lead a program of engineering education research, and first class teaching and learning in engineering. I am especially focussed on high standards and engaging with practice throughout the curriculum.

I was selected a member of the UWA ATHENA SWAN Self Assessment Team, and elected to UWA Academic Board.

National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education 2017 'Access to Work Integrated Learning: Influence of Communities of Practice'

Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching 2015 'Virtual Work Integrated Learning for Engineering Students'

Australian Government Office for Learning & Teaching 2014 Strategic Priority Grant 'Student Experiences of Threshold Capability Development with Intensive Mode Teaching'

Australian Government Office for Learning & Teaching 2013 Seed Grant 'Gender inclusivity of engineering students' experiences of workplace learning'

UWA Education Research Seed Funding Grant 2013 'Investigation of Gender Inclusivity of Student Exposure to Engineering Practice at UWA'

UWA Research Collaboration Award - International Engineering Thresholds 2011 'International Engineering Thresholds'

UWA Faculty of Engineering, Computing, and Mathematics Research Development Award 2012 'Students' Experiences of Threshold Concepts'

Australian Council of Engineering Deans support for Engineering Thresholds: An Approach to Curriculum Renewal 2010

In addition to my research on enhancing industry engagement in engineering degrees, and gender inclusivity of engineering workplaces, for my PhD, I studied industry perceptions of competencies required by engineers graduating in Australia.

My research informs continuous improvement of engineering education nationally. I have developed and facilitated numerous workshops on curriculum development to educators in universities around Australia.

I oversee the Professional Practicum in the Masters of Professional Engineering. Additionally, I am the Program Chair for the first two years of the Engineering Science major, coordinate the Electrical & Electronic Engineering Design Project Units ELEC 5551 and 5552, and have primary responsibility for the introductory engineering unit ENSC 2011. I have supervised engineering students at final year, masters, and PhD levels.

I have given numerous invited presentations on higher education, engineering education, and women in engineering.

Virtual Work Integrated Learning for Engineering Students. An Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching Innovation and Development Project. www.ecm.uwa.edu.au/vwil

Student Experiences of Threshold Capability Development with Intensive Mode Teaching. An Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching Strategic Priority Project
http://uwa.edu.au/imt

Enhancing industry engagement in engineering education. I undertook the research and was the project manager on the project 'Enhancing industry engagement in engineering degrees', for the Australian Council of Engineering Deans. Twelve universities participated in the project along with peak industry bodies. The project had two themes. In Theme 1 guidelines with recommendations for effective industry engagement in engineering degrees were developed and tested (https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/content-files/ACED/aced_industry_engagement_guidelines.pdf). Theme 1 involved surveys and interviews with industry members, academics, and students; forums in which the draft guidelines were reviewed, and testing and evaluation of the guidelines. In Theme 2, academics developed industry-inspired projects to be completed by students in engineering units.

Other projects:

Gender inclusivity in engineering education.
http://www.ecm.uwa.edu.au/staff/learning/research/gender-inclusivity
http://www.olt.gov.au/project-gender-inclusivity-engineering-studentsapos-experiences-workplace-learning-2013

Engineering thresholds: an approach to curriculum renewal
http://www.ecm.uwa.edu.au/students/learning/research/engineering-threshold-concepts

Competencies of engineering graduates http://www.ecm.uwa.edu.au/research/education/competencies-of-engineering-graduates/