Associate Professor Harold John Culala is the Director of Learning and Teaching at ExcelsiaUniversity College, with over 20 years of higher education leadership across Australia and Asia. His previous roles include Vice President for Academic Services, Dean of Teacher Education, and Senior Lecturer in Academic Development, with expertise in academic development, teaching and learning, assessment, and governance. He holds a PhD in Education (Curriculum Studies) from Taylor’s University and an MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction). He has published in the areas of curriculum reform, academic identity, and higher education practice, and has supervised and examined PhD and Master’stheses. He is a Senior Fellow of UK Advance HE (SFHEA), Associate Editor of the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, and Board Secretary of the Open Access Publishing Association.
Research Interests
Dr Culala’s research examines critical issues in teacher education, curriculum policy, and academic practice, aligned with Australia’s Fields of Research Codes 3901 (Curriculum and Pedagogy) and 3902 (Education Policy). His scholarly interests include:
1. Curriculum Policies, Development, and Renewal – interrogating curriculum frameworks and reforms, with a focus on inclusive, adaptable, and sustainable curriculum design.
2. Academic Identity and Teaching Paradigms – investigating how academic identity and evolving paradigms of teaching shape professional practice and the student experience.
3. Education Reform and Policy Studies – critically examining the complexities of education reform and policy implementation, and their impact on diverse stakeholders.
4. Educational Assessment – advancing innovative, student-centred approaches to assessment that enhance learning outcomes and align with principles of integrity and fairness.
5. Qualitative and Case Study Inquiry – employing qualitative methodologies and case study designs to generate contextually grounded insights into curriculum and educational practice.
