MrRob McHenry

My teaching centres around improving graduate readiness for the transition to work. I do this by drawing upon my experiences in practice, engineering education and practice research, and engagement with industry partners, students, and teaching staff as collaborators and co-designers to create authentic learning experiences for students that develop graduate capabilities, both within and alonside the curriculum. 

Current teaching appointments:

SEJ302 - Control Systems Engineering (unit chair/coordinator)

• Unit Chair since 2024.
• 3rd year, 2-cp Project-oriented, Design Based Learning (PoDBL) unit delivered in Geelong, Burwood, and Online.
• Core unit for Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Electrical & Renewables Engineering undergraduate students (large diverse cohort).
• Lead teaching team of six (6) academic staff, and work with technical team and industry partners such as Energys Australia and Applied Robotics to facilitate technical and professional learning experiences.
• Led unit redevelopment in 2024 in response to student feedback, leveraging a detailed collaboration with industry stakeholders (collected data and insights from 15 different control systems practitioners to inform curriculum content and focus)
• Student feedback evidences positive outcomes since 2024 (increased satisfaction and engagement arising from; authentic learning design; introduction of hands-on labwork; and industry engagement in project design and unit delivery)

SEP701 - Continuing Professional Development (unit chair/coordinator)

• Unit Chair since 2021.
• Master of Engineering Level, 1-cp Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit, alternative core option to SEL703 - Professional Practice (Engineering Internship unit) delivered Online.
• Redeveloped and refined unit since 2020 to support students (predominantly international) with developing self-awareness, career readiness, and understanding of Australian workplace and employment culture (to improve likelihood of obtaining first professional role, internship, or next major step in career).
• Coordinate and facilitate site visits, guest lectures, practitioner podcast interviews, and industry led training programs aligned to assessment, as well as facilitation of mock job application and interview experiences for students with real HR professionals.
• Student and alumni feedback on the value of this unit to immediate and long-term learning outcomes has been positive, with many SEP701 alumni willingly contributing back to the unit to support current students.

Previous substantive teaching appointments:

SEL703 - Professional Practice  (unit chair/coordinator)

• Unit chair, 2020 - 21.
• Placement-based WIL (P-WIL) unit, 1cp - core undergraduate engineering unit, alternative core Master of Engineering unit (alternate to SEP701).
• Led rapid redevelopment of SEL703 and former undergraduate P-WIL unit (SEP499) during COVID-19 interuption to respond to changed employment conditions and expectations.
• Improved accessibility and assessment for students and employers.
• Led efforts to merge SEL703 and SEP499 into one unit to improve admin efficiencies, and reduce duplication of similar units.
• Continue to support unit as member of SEL703 Assessment Panel.

• Special unit offering in 2024 as part of $1.14M DET Victoria Funded, Graduate Certificate of Secondary Design & Technologies project supporting the professional development of out-of-field secondary school design and tech teachers.
• Supported unit-chair with unit design, development and delivery as subject matter expert.
• Collaborated with School of Education and Geelong Tech School to design and deliver engaging intensive learning activities for approximately 50 teacher-students.
• Contributed to grant application and program level curriculum design and development to ensure high quality, scaffolded learning for participants.

SEJ101/104 - Engineering in Society (Teaching team member, professional practice lead)

• Large unit offered to all first-year engineering students (250 - 350 students per offering)
• Active teaching team member, studio delivery, assessment support, unit development support (2020 - 2024)
• Led professional practice learning integration into unit, supported unit redevelopment (2023)
• Initiated intensive week "Industry Day" event 2020, continue to support organisation and facilitation (through to 2026+)
  • Fostered substantial industry support over the years (sourced guest presenters from over 10 companies)
  • Helped coordinate and facilitate the day
  • Supported 2024-2026 unit chair with integration of networking and live assessment activities into an after the day's events.

Other Teaching Experience:

• Provide school-wide leadership and support for embedding professional learning and industry context into learning experiences across all disciplines. Includes collaboration and co-design with students, industry, and teaching staff (aligned to 2023, VC Award).
• Assisted unit chairs with project, professional learning, assessment design/delivery, and industry engagement in multiple units, including 
  • SEJ104 - Engineering for Society 
  • SEJ103 - Materials Engineering Project
  • SEJ201 - Structural Design
  • SEM200 - Machine Design
  • SEV300 - Reinforced Concrete and Steel Structures
  • SEM310 - Thermo-fluid Systems
  • SEJ441/446 - Engineering Project A & B (Capstone units)
  • SEN710/720 - Engineering Project Initiation, Project Implementation, and Evaluation (Capstone) units (aligned to 2021, VC Award)
  • SEN723 - Managing Engineering Project

Teaching and Learning Awards:

• 2023 Deakin University, WJC Banks Vice Chancellors Award for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning - Partners in Learning: Students and Industry practitioners as partners in the co-design of embedded engineering practice educational resources
• 2021 Deakin University, Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Employability - Information Technology and Engineering Capstone project team for outstanding contribution to enhancing the employability skills for students through authentic industry experiences and innovative assessment design.
• 2025 Faculty of SEBE, Teaching Innovation Award - SEJ104 Engineering in Society Industry Day Organisers; Kaja Antelj, Negin Ameni, Rob McHenry, Marzie Ghorbani, Dean Corva, Andrew Cleary, Nigel Petrie, Bronwyn Henry, Kelsie Whyte.
• 2024 Faculty of SEBE, Teaching Innovation Award - Redesign of SEJ302 Control Systems Engineering for T2 2024, Rob McHenry, Laura Tubino, Hieu Trinh, Sheikh Tanzim Meraj and Muhammad Adil