Roula Kyriacou

Roula Kyriacou is an Associate Professor of Pathology and the Associate Dean Clinical and Professional Education within the School of Health & Biomedical Sciences. Roula leads innovations to enhance student engagement in clinical and professional education (CPE), including placement preparedness initiatives in conjunction with the STEM College WIL & Engagement team. In collaboration with the Deputy Dean Learning & Teaching and Deputy Dean Engagement, Roula fosters growth of placements across the School and leads professional development initiatives for clinical/professional educators and placement coordinators to successfully supervise, develop, support and assess students in their CPE journey.

Roula has led and facilitated College initiatives, leading teams through change management in response to University Strategy and future-focused industry needs. She has mentored Program Managers, Placement Coordinators, Course Coordinators and guided staff through workload discussions to foster industry engagement activities and professional development. As Program Manager and Assistant Associate Dean (Laboratory Medicine), Roula led a team of Academics that deliver Laboratory Medicine programs, the only programs accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical & Clinical Scientists (AIMS) at a Victorian higher education provider. She led various program initiatives, including the implementation of the new Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine (Honours) program. She led successful accreditation reviews and Industry Advisory Committee meetings to ensure all programs and professional practice experiences in diagnostic pathology are relevant and reflective of industry’s demands.

Roula’s learning and teaching (L&T) endeavours culminated in two RMIT University Vice-Chancellor's Awards, including the highest award for Distinguished Teaching (2019) and a national citation award by the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) (2020). She has mentored and facilitated several early-to-mid career teaching and research-intensive staff in L&T endeavours, with numerous teaching awards and academic promotion outcomes. Roula is passionate about contributing to positive partnerships and fostering teamwork - between students, alumni, staff, WIL Team, and/or industry. She is very much committed to student-centred excellence in L&T and to facilitating staff to achieve this outcome.

In recognition of her influence, support, management and mentoring of others in L&T, Roula was awarded a Senior Fellowship of Advance HE, United Kingdom (SFHEA) in 2024.