News and events

Future Proofing the Creative Arts in Higher Education: a scoping project for quality in creative arts research training

Project leaders: A/Prof. Su Baker, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne; and A/Prof. Brad Buckley, Sydney College of the Arts Graduate School, University of Sydney
Project Manager: Ms. Giselle Kett, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne

This scoping project is a collaboration between the Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools (ACUADS), the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), University of Melbourne and the Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), University of Sydney. The project aims to survey the current state of doctoral programs in the creative arts in Australian universities and to investigate corresponding programs in a sample of overseas universities. Key areas the study will address include: the structure of doctoral programs; expectations of supervision, coursework, and examination practices; multiple research outcomes produced; new knowledge evolving through these models of research; institutional support required; and the needs and expectations of research candidates.   (See www.creativeartsphd.com)

Writing in the Academy: the practice-based thesis as an evolving genre

Project leaders: Prof. Brian Paltridge, University of Sydney; Dr. Sue Starfield, University of New South Wales; and Dr. Louise Ravelli, University of New South Wales
Project Coordinator: Ms. Sarah Nicholson, University of Sydney

This study investigates the practice-based doctoral thesis in the creative and performing arts, an alternative thesis type that is still in a process of development. The project aims to identify the range and extent to which practice-based theses are being submitted for doctoral degrees in the creative and performing arts in Australian universities and the particular nature and character of these texts. The study will make a significant contribution to academic literature research by defining the range of current practices in the area and the desirable character of a doctoral thesis written in practice-based areas of study.

Scoping Study for a National New Media/Electronic Arts Network

Project leaders: Dr Paul Thomas, Curtin University of Technology; Ms. Eleanor Gates-Stuart, Australian National University; Mr. Vince Dziekan, Monash University; Dr Brogan Bunt, University of Wollongong; and Professor Julian Knowles, Queensland University of Technology

The media/electronic art scoping study is an overview of the current and pioneering educators, artists and scientists who have brought about the dissolution of boundaries that have traditionally existed between the artistic and technological disciplines. The study will establish a symposium to survey the work of media art educators who have developed facilities, new interactive and interdisciplinary curriculum, who have developed information technologies and related influential theoretical, scientific and philosophical pedagogies that have influenced the development of media/electronic arts. A team of Media Art lectures proposed developing the scoping study of media/electronic art teaching practices. The scooping study will build an historically based network and database of the evolution of Media/electronic arts in universities. The database will support curriculum development and enhancement of course development in media/electronic arts education at universities.

Dancing between Diversity and Consistency: Improving Assessment in Postgraduate Studies in Dance

Project investigators: A/Prof. Cheryl Stock Queensland University of Technology; Dr Kim Vincs, Deakin Uiversity; and Dr Maggi Phillips, WAAPA, Edith Cowan University; the Tertiary Dance Council; and Ausdance

The principal objective of the research is to derive a code of assessment for postgraduate research studies in dance in Australia, encompassing the two primary modes of investigation, written and practice-as-research theses, their distinctiveness and their potential interplay. Interviews with supervisors/examiners, candidates and research personnel; focus group consultation with the dance community, report analyses and literature searches act as the means by which to determine examination criteria to facilitate clarity and flexibility in all aspects of the process.

Assessing Graduate Screen Production Outputs In Nineteen Australian Film Schools

Project investigators: Dr Josko Petkovic, Murdoch University; Prof Ian Lang, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne; Mr. Leo Berkley, RMIT University; A/Prof Gillian Leahey, University of Technology; Mr.Nicholas Oughton, Griffith University; and Ms. Alison Wotherspoon, Flinders University

Australian Screen Production Education & Research Association (ASPERA), the peak body of all Australian film schools, has devised a system of assessing creative works using an integrated network of State and National Peer Review Committees. This system has never been tested before. The aim of this project is to test this assessment system on 19 ASPERA film schools while liaising with DEEWR and CILECT (the International Association of Film and Television Schools). This project will formally define, test, validate and regulate academic standards, assessment and reporting practices for graduating film school students, who at the moment have only an informal assessment regime not recognized by DEEWR. A sample of three Honours productions completed in the last six years from each ASPERA member institution will be used as test material. This outcome will potentially bring visibility to around 6 per cent of the total university population, with wide-reaching consequences.

Artists in the University: Research at the Margins ?

Ms. Jenny Wilson (PhD candidate University of Melbourne), Strategic Development Manager, Strategic Research Program for Social Change and Wellbeing, Griffith University
Email: jenny.wilson@griffith.edu.au

This project examines the relationship between the university and its creative arts practitioners as expressed through the research governance framework. Despite distinctive differences between research in the creative arts and traditional university text based enquiry, it represents a little studied area in higher education research. By examining the decision-making and implementation framework of institutional governance, heavily influenced by national Science, Technology, Engineering and Medical policy priorities, the project will evaluate the capacity of the university to incorporate these diverse disciplinary practices within an inclusive governance framework and the effect of institutional strategies upon academic creative artists – as academics, as artists and as mentors of future artists/researchers.