Melbourne Model: Difference between revisions
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'''[[University of Melbourne Student Union]]''' President, Libby Buckingham, claims Melbourne are spending too much money on "capital works, advertising and the transition to the Melbourne Model..." and that "the future of the (arts) faculty is being shaped by voluntary redundancies rather than … consultation about the curriculum."<ref name="Cuts take">[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/cuts-take-toll-on-melbourne-uni-staff/2008/04/10/1207420591353.html Cuts take toll on 'overworked' Melbourne Uni staff] ''The Age'', April 11, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008</ref> |
'''[[University of Melbourne Student Union]]''' President, Libby Buckingham, claims Melbourne are spending too much money on "capital works, advertising and the transition to the Melbourne Model..." and that "the future of the (arts) faculty is being shaped by voluntary redundancies rather than … consultation about the curriculum."<ref name="Cuts take">[http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/cuts-take-toll-on-melbourne-uni-staff/2008/04/10/1207420591353.html Cuts take toll on 'overworked' Melbourne Uni staff] ''The Age'', April 11, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008</ref> |
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'''[[Victorian College of the Arts Student Union]]''' accused the University of Melbourne's restructuring as a pretext for shutting down political representation for [[Victorian College of the Arts]] students. Victorian College of the Arts became a faculty of the University of Melbourne in 2007 and the student union has argued the university's plans have been about rationalisation<ref>[http://www.vcasu.org.au/2008/04/24/arts-college-to-follow-us-model-2/ Arts college to follow US model] ''The Age'', April 23, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2008</ref> as opposed to genuine expansion and conclude the university's refusal to discontinue the student union funding is politically motivated.<ref>[http://www.vcasu.org.au/2008/04/29/vice-chancellor-lies-about-introduction-of-melbourne-model-at-vca/ Vice Chancellor Lies About Introduction of Melbourne Model at VCA] ''VCASU'' website, April 29, 2008. Accessed May |
'''[[Victorian College of the Arts Student Union]]''' accused the University of Melbourne's restructuring as a pretext for shutting down political representation for [[Victorian College of the Arts]] students. Victorian College of the Arts became a faculty of the University of Melbourne in 2007 and the student union has argued the university's plans have been about rationalisation<ref>[http://www.vcasu.org.au/2008/04/24/arts-college-to-follow-us-model-2/ Arts college to follow US model] ''The Age'', April 23, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2008</ref> as opposed to genuine expansion and conclude the university's refusal to discontinue the student union funding is politically motivated.<ref>[http://www.vcasu.org.au/2008/04/29/vice-chancellor-lies-about-introduction-of-melbourne-model-at-vca/ Vice Chancellor Lies About Introduction of Melbourne Model at VCA] ''VCASU'' website, April 29, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008</ref> |
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'''[[Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association]]''' accuses University of Melbourne of exploiting its postgraduates through the Melbourne Model as undergraduates cannot be charged full fees, assuming the university's "prime motivation for moving to the new Model is better business and more income."<ref>[http://www.usyd.edu.au/supra/Pub/Honi_PG/documents/SUPRAHoni18.pdf Is Sydney Choice the Melbourne Model?] ''The SUPRA'', Issue 18, 2008. Accessed December 14, 2008</ref> |
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'''[[University Council member Tammi Jonas]]''' resigned from the UoM Council on Monday 7 Dec 2009 "in protest against the University’s exploitation of its casual labour force, which is largely made up of postgraduate students."<ref>[http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/12/09/why-i-resigned-from-the-university-of-melbourne-council Why I resigned from Melbourne Uni Council] ''Crikey'', Dec 9, 2009. Accessed February 1, 2010</ref> This issue links with the SUPRA statement noted above, which directs blame at finances underpinning the Melbourne Model. Tammi Jonas' response to the university's reaction to her resignation was published later on her blog. <ref>[http://tammijonas.blogspot.com/2010/01/university-of-melbournes-response-to-my.html The University of Melbourne's response to my resignation from Council] ''Tammi Tasting Terror'', Jan 21, 2010. Accessed February 1, 2010</ref> |
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=== Academic === |
=== Academic === |
Revision as of 11:10, 23 November 2010
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![]() | The examples and perspective in this article may not include all significant viewpoints. (July 2009) |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/Dream_large_banner.jpg/220px-Dream_large_banner.jpg)
The Melbourne Model is a radical restructuring of the undergraduate curriculum of the University of Melbourne, located in Victoria, Australia, one of the country's richest universities.[1] Introduced in 2008 by University of Melbourne Vice-chancellor and Melbourne Model architect Professor Glyn Davis, the model is designed to align itself "with the best of European and Asian practice and North American traditions",[2], specifically for "[i]nternationalising academic programs and aligning degree structures with the 'Bologna model'"[3].[4] The university's 96 undergraduate courses will be replaced with six "new generation" degrees and professional programs.[5] The model has been met with a wave of criticism from students, academics and unions as well as coming under much scrutiny in the Australian press, often described as "controversial"[6] and following a "US-style".[7] Most of the criticism is focussed on the loss of jobs (and the consequent negative impact on staff:student ratios) rather than the model itself. Job losses were initially concentrated in the Arts Faculty but later spread to other faculties [8], including the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA or VCAM).[9]
Reasoning behind the move to the "Melbourne Model"
In their Growing Esteem whitepaper the University of Melbourne put their rationale for the move in this manner:
"There are international moves to standardise degree structures. The familiar American pattern of four-year arts or science degrees followed by graduate school is being echoed by the Bologna Declaration among European nations. The Bologna model, set to become the European standard from 2010, advocates a three-year undergraduate program with advanced courses taught in a two-year masters degree or a three-year doctoral program. Historically, this move updates an ancient structure, that of the University of Paris in the 13th century. If this becomes a global norm but Australia continues to prepare its professionals through undergraduate programs, in the longer term our graduates may no longer be seen as globally competitive."[10]
Implementation
The University of Melbourne introduced the Melbourne Model officially in 2008. By the end of the academic year it was reported that administration had admitted to some subjects being either too broad or too narrow and the need for a reassessment on the curriculum.[11] A leaked document revealed the University of Melbourne will have spent $11.6 million on marketing for the Melbourne Model by the end of 2008, followed by another $16 million by the end of 2010.[12] The university's "Dream Large" slogan has since been a source of ongoing ridicule by University of Melbourne students[13][14][15] and students have even called for the sacking of Davis as Vice-chancellor over the model.[16] Students initially disrupted the official 2007 launch of the Melbourne Model[17] which has been followed by various demonstrations and student occupations against the Melbourne Model and the university in general.[18][19][20]
Response
Trade and Student Unions
National Tertiary Education Union accused the university of "PR spin" over the decision to address media over the potential loss to 130 jobs in the Arts Faculty before speaking to staff or the union.[21] The union also criticise Melbourne over their call for voluntary redundancies after the union released results of a survey finding "more than 90% of staff said their workload had increased" since 2007 and the same percentage of respondents "reported having concerns about restructuring or changes to their area..."[22]
National Union of Students Education Officer, Colleen Bolger, stated that staff "are being told they will need to front up at McCarthy-style "trials" to plead the case for their subjects over their colleagues'" criticising the university's Dean of Arts Belinda Probert and the "business mentality of those who run universities" whom she claims many of which also sit on company boards.[23]
Australian Law Students’ Association Vice President (Education), Mitch Riley, conceded the pedagogical benefits of the Melbourne Model but claimed students from low socioeconomic, rural and indigenous backgrounds would not be able to study at Melbourne with the high fees involved.[24]
University of Melbourne Student Union President, Libby Buckingham, claims Melbourne are spending too much money on "capital works, advertising and the transition to the Melbourne Model..." and that "the future of the (arts) faculty is being shaped by voluntary redundancies rather than … consultation about the curriculum."[22]
Victorian College of the Arts Student Union accused the University of Melbourne's restructuring as a pretext for shutting down political representation for Victorian College of the Arts students. Victorian College of the Arts became a faculty of the University of Melbourne in 2007 and the student union has argued the university's plans have been about rationalisation[25] as opposed to genuine expansion and conclude the university's refusal to discontinue the student union funding is politically motivated.[26]
Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association accuses University of Melbourne of exploiting its postgraduates through the Melbourne Model as undergraduates cannot be charged full fees, assuming the university's "prime motivation for moving to the new Model is better business and more income."[27]
University Council member Tammi Jonas resigned from the UoM Council on Monday 7 Dec 2009 "in protest against the University’s exploitation of its casual labour force, which is largely made up of postgraduate students."[28] This issue links with the SUPRA statement noted above, which directs blame at finances underpinning the Melbourne Model. Tammi Jonas' response to the university's reaction to her resignation was published later on her blog. [29]
Academic
University of Melbourne Australian Studies senior lecturer, Graham Willett, while arguing for Victorian academics to pursue industrial action over redundancies, also suggested the university could save money by cutting Vice-chancellor Davis' salary, which stood at $610, 000 in 2007,[30] and getting rid of the new position of Provost held by Peter McPhee.[31]
University of Melbourne Department of History Associate Professor, David Phillips, called the Melbourne Model a "nightmare for the Arts Faculty" and that the "entire Australian university community should be worried about what is involved" with the direction the University of Melbourne was steering higher education.[32]
University of Melbourne Department of Science and Mathematics Education staff member, Ted Clark, blamed the university for using the Melbourne Model transition as an excuse to implement cuts to staff jobs: "It is now impossible to argue that there is a separation... between cost cutting or staffing requirements from the introduction and implementation of the Melbourne Model."[33]
University of Melbourne Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning Professor, Miles Lewis, attacked the university's demotion of Dr. Paul Mees[34] - a former senior lecturer in transport planning who subsequently resigned, taking up a position at RMIT University - over Mees' criticism of the government's privatisation of public transport. Lewis argued that the Melbourne Model "requires the relentless pursuit of mediocrity and the routing out of any independent intellects from the university", blaming Melbourne for catering to the agendas of government and wealthy industry bodies.[35]
University of Melbourne staff member and education activist, Melanie Lazero, in a public debate between the University of Melbourne Student Union and the university described the Melbourne Model as "shallow" and "a neoliberal idea of education", claiming the model limited students choices.[36]
University of Melbourne staff member known only as "SP", described her/himself as "a victim of “Growing Esteem” at Melbourne", accusing VC Davis of continuing former VC Alan Gilbert's role of being financially driven: "Restructuring needs to be fully participatory, democratic, and transparent. It is not. Possibly the worst restructuring I have seen in 15 years."[37]
University of Melbourne academic staff member known only as "BRY" is, like "SP" above, also a victim of "Growing Esteem", and has criticized "the immense damage that vice-chancellor Glyn Davis has caused to the university"[38]
University of Melbourne's current and former staff have also been quoted anonymously as saying that the cuts to arts at the university were significant while in relation to the workload: "Everyone is running around in shock saying we've got so many students we've got no idea what to do about it."[39]
Victorian College of the Arts Director, Professor Andrea Hull, announced her retirement in 2008 shortly after The Age published a leaked email from Hull to Victorian College of the Arts staff stating that she and her colleagues disagreed to further compromises over the implementation of the Melbourne Model at the arts college, "nor to a name that wipes out the VCA's prestige and history...". Ironically, Hull had been repeatedly criticised by the Victorian College of the Arts Student Union over perceived inaction in relation the Melbourne Model,[40][41] yet Hull denied that her retirement was related to Melbourne's overruled decision to change the college's name.[42]
Monash University Communications lecturer and Herald Sun journalist, Dr Caron Dann, attacked University of Melbourne Provost Peter McPhee, by saying "I like the idea of the University of Melbourne model in theory. HOWEVER (and it's a big however), I am suspicious because all around me I see universities behaving like profit-making businesses and using management models that do not help academics provide the best education for students."[43]
La Trobe University School of Business Professor of Economics, Harry Clarke, speculated the Melbourne Model "will reduce numbers seeking to utilise its programs" and "programs will become more expensive in time and aggregate tuition charges" accusing their scholarship program of being "distributionally regressive" aimed at mainly well-off private-school-trained students.[44]
Swinburne University Vice-chancellor, Professor Ian Young, argued that University of Melbourne students would have to study for five years, as opposed to three to get a vocational qualification: "There's no doubt that the model actually increases the cost of education, either to the student or to the nation or both, by some 60 per cent. So it is a more expensive form of education. It may well be an excellent education, but it is undoubtedly a more expensive form of education."[45]
Queensland University of Technology economist, Paul Frijters, pointed to the Melbourne Model's "risk that there will be a dumbing down of content" in degrees taught and the fact that many UoM undergraduates come from private high schools "offering them scholarships will have a fairly limited effect."[46]
University of Sydney Acting Vice-chancellor, Professor Don Nutbeam, expressed concern the Melbourne Model would end up devaluing or giving less importance to new high school graduates.[47]
Student
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7a/Melbourne_Model_Protest_26th_July_-3.jpg/220px-Melbourne_Model_Protest_26th_July_-3.jpg)
University of Melbourne Arts student, Ben Coleridge, admitted that while the university's "vision is attractive... the Melbourne Model rhetorically espouses flexibility, (but) so far it has often been experienced as inflexible. Some students have begun to think of it as a strategy to disguise retrenchment and diminution."[48]
University of Melbourne Creative Arts student, Rosalie Delaney, claimed the university was censoring students' artworks critical of the Melbourne's new teaching model, saying universities should "be a bastion of free speech and critical thought and questioning of structures and authority,” describing their alleged actions as “appalling”; actions which the university administration deny."[49]
University of Melbourne Creative Arts group, Crunch, produced Melbourne Model: The Musical, a humorous critique of the university's restructuring of the arts faculty, where Vice-chancellor Davis is depicted as a "a nymphomaniac rock star",[50] who eventually relocates to Canberra, thus abandoning the university, alluding to Davis' close relationship with Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.[51] Fregmonto Stokes, the musical's writer, was inspired by what he described as "the cutting of a significant number of subjects for economic reasons". The musical was the last production for the 15-year-old arts group Crunch which was wound up by the end of 2008 due to University of Melbourne's cuts to the arts faculty.[52]
Victorian College of the Arts student, Chloe Greaves, complained to the Victorian College of the Arts Faculty Board that there was confusion and resentment amongst the student body around the Melbourne Model and merger of the arts college with the University of Melbourne. She criticised the lack of student consultation, citing an article in The Age as the first many students had heard of any changes to the curriculum.[53]
Prospective high school graduate students have also expressed criticism of the University of Melbourne, seeing the Melbourne Model as "a grab for cash" or "a shameless bid to make university careers longer and win lucrative fees from overseas students and wealthy locals."[54] One year 12 student was reported as saying: "Far from offering students a genuine choice, this model dictates that we must now study an extra two or three years, whether we want to or not."[46]
Other
Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals' President, Brian Burgess, charged the University of Melbourne with "elitism" and put forward that the amount of students who would have access to the university's courses would be minimal and for those that could, the courses would take longer than normal.[45]
Corporate lawyer and company director, Adam Schwab, linked the University of Melbourne's move to a postgraduate emphasis and the newly elected Labor Government's plan to scrap full fee paying places for domestic students in 2009 being "remarkably well timed",[55] also insinuating a close relationship between Vice-chancellor Davis and the Labor Government.
See also
References
- ^ University of Melbourne Australian Universities website, 2008. Accessed August 10, 2008
- ^ The Melbourne Model University of Melbourne website, Accessed May 3, 2008
- ^ "Report on Growing Esteem Consultation" (PDF). Growing Esteem. The University of Melbourne. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
- ^ Maslen, Geoff (1 September 2006). "Melbourne set to give Bologna model an Australian debut". Times Higher Education. TSL Education Ltd. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
- ^ Demand falls as uni shifts to US model The Age, October 17, 2007. Accessed May 3, 2008
- ^ Staff go under uni's new model The Age, July 18, 2007. Accessed August 10, 2008
- ^ New-look Melbourne Uni slips in rankings Herald Sun, July 18, 2007. Accessed August 10, 2008
- ^ Battered Melbourne Uni Slashes 220 jobs The Age, July 29, 2009. Accessed July, 2010
- ^ Job cuts add to woes at VCA The Age, August 8, 2009. Accessed July, 2010
- ^ "Growing Esteem" (PDF). Growing Esteem. The University of Melbourne. December 12 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Rethink on Melbourne Uni model The Age, December 15, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Ad budget for Melbourne model under fire The Age, October 12, 2008. Accessed October 13, 2008
- ^ Dream on YouTube, August 23, 2007. Accessed December 18, 2008
- ^ "Spark" Volume 3, 2007 cover Wikipedia, file downloaded 03:23, 7 May, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Crunch 08 Presents Melbourne Model: The Musical Melbourne Model: The Musical website, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Students demand sacking of VC Green Left Weekly, Issue 719, July 27, 2007. Accessed October 14, 2008
- ^ New model could cut academic jobs The Age, April 18, 2007. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Melbourne Model Protest 26th July #3 YouTube, July 26, 2007. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Students in protest raid over cuts to arts staff The Australian, May 13, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Student Housing Activism in Australia North American Students of Cooperation, November/December issue, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ NTEU CONDEMNS UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE'S CONSULTATION SHAM OVER ARTS RENEWAL STRATEGY NTEU media release, July 10, 2007. Accessed May 3, 2008
- ^ a b Cuts take toll on 'overworked' Melbourne Uni staff The Age, April 11, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008
- ^ No course cuts! Oppose the new assault on education Socialist Alternative, Edition 119, August 2007. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ EQUITY AND THE MELBOURNE MODEL ALSA submission, 2007. Accessed December 14, 2008
- ^ Arts college to follow US model The Age, April 23, 2008. Accessed December 26, 2008
- ^ Vice Chancellor Lies About Introduction of Melbourne Model at VCA VCASU website, April 29, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008
- ^ Is Sydney Choice the Melbourne Model? The SUPRA, Issue 18, 2008. Accessed December 14, 2008
- ^ Why I resigned from Melbourne Uni Council Crikey, Dec 9, 2009. Accessed February 1, 2010
- ^ The University of Melbourne's response to my resignation from Council Tammi Tasting Terror, Jan 21, 2010. Accessed February 1, 2010
- ^ Survey finds big rewards for VCs The Australian, July 4, 2007. Accessed December 27, 2008
- ^ Action can stop job cuts at Melbourne Uni Solidarity Magazine, Issue 8, October 2008. Accessed December 27, 2008
- ^ 'Dreamlarge' a nightmare for the Arts Faculty Advocate, Volume 14, Number 2, July 2007. Accessed October 26, 2008
- ^ The Melbourne Model: The jury is still out Advocate, Volume 14, Number 2, July 2007. Accessed October 26, 2008
- ^ Melbourne Uni demotes transport dissident The Age, May 20, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ Letters reprinted from The Age online May 21, 2008 Association for the Public University website, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ Melbourne Model Debate video UMSU website, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ The Melbourne Model Andrew Norton blog, May 17, 2007. Accessed December 19, 2008
- ^ Waning mystique Third Degree blog, November 20, 2009. Accessed February 10, 2010
- ^ Search for a super model The Age, October 5, 2008. Accessed October 16, 2008
- ^ Andrea Hull Addresses Students regarding the Melbourne Model VCASU website, April 19, 2007. Accessed November 14, 2008
- ^ Andrea Hull lies… again! VCASU website, May 6, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Andrea Hull prepares to leave the VCA The Age, May 28, 2008. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Melbourne model in vogue Times Higher Education, November 30, 2008. Accessed December 14, 2008
- ^ University of Melbourne model Harry Clarke blog, April 18, 2007. Accessed October 15, 2008
- ^ a b Melbourne University makes its pitch for the next generation of students Stateline transcript, April 20, 2007. Accessed November 14, 2008
- ^ a b Degrees of doubt The Age, May 21, 2007. Accessed October 30, 2008
- ^ Melbourne Uni to undergo bold overhaul Lateline transcript, July 7, 2006. Accessed December 15, 2008
- ^ Why the Melbourne Model is failing students Eureka Street, Volume 18, Number 25, December 8, 2008. Accessed December 14, 2008
- ^ Express yourself, but steer clear of politics The Age, June 7, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ Melbourne Model: The Musical UMSU website, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ Melbourne University reappoints Glyn Davis as VC The Australian, July 15, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ Crunch time for uni arts troupe in protest swansong The Age, July 28, 2008. Accessed August 8, 2008
- ^ Undergraduate Student Report - Chloe Greaves - VCA Faculty Board VCA Students blog, April 30, 2008. Accessed December 25, 2008
- ^ Testing school of thought on Melbourne model The Age, September 29, 2007. Accessed October 16, 2008
- ^ Is Monash Uni introducing the "Melbourne Model" by stealth? Crikey website, June 19, 2008. Accessed October 14, 2008