Michael Whelan

Michael Whelan is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Early Childhood at the University of the West of England, affiliated with the Department of ACE – Education and Childhood within the College of Arts, Creative Industries and Education. His work bridges academic scholarship and practical youth engagement, with a strong commitment to social justice and equity in youth services.

His research interests include:

• Youth work in teenage cancer care
• Detached and street-based interventions with marginalized youth
• Gender-related violence and its pedagogical implications
• Sociological perspectives on youth culture and identity
• Training and education for youth practitioners

While specific publications are not listed in the provided text, his research profile suggests a consistent focus on the intersection of informal education, vulnerability, and social justice. Themes across potential publications would likely include youth agency, structural inequality, gender dynamics, health contexts for young people, and critical pedagogy.

He has taught across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, emphasizing sociological understandings of youth. His professional experience spans Ireland, Australia, and the UK, contributing to an international perspective on youth services.

No scientific awards or specific grants are mentioned in the provided text.

Michael Whelan advises students in education and youth work, though no named students are listed. His teaching and research are deeply connected to real-world youth work practice, suggesting mentorship grounded in applied and critical pedagogy.

There is no mention of specific labs or research teams, but his work aligns with informal education research groups and social justice-oriented education initiatives at UWE Bristol.