Melbourne Model

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Melbourne Model is a controversial restructuring of the curriculum of the University of Melbourne (UM), one of the country's richest universities, located in Victoria, Australia. Introduced in 2008 by UM Vice-chancellor and Melbourne Model architect Glyn Davis, the model is designed to align "itself with the best of European and Asian practice and North American traditions", [1] where the University's 96 undergraduate courses will be replaced with six "new generation" degrees and professional programs. [2]

[edit] Criticisms

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) accuses 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. [3] NTEU also criticise UM over their call for voluntray redundancies after NTEU 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..." [4]

University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU, President Libby Buckingham claims UM are spending too much money on "capital works, advertising and the transition to the Melbourne Model..." and that "the future of the faculty is being shaped by voluntary redundancies rather than … consultation about the curriculum."[5]

The Victorian College of the Arts Student Union (VCASU) also accuses UM's restructuring as a pretext for shutting down political representation for Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) students. VCA became a faculty of UM in 2007 and VCASU has argued Melbourne's plans have been about rationalisation as opposed to genuine expansion and conclude the University's refusal to discontinue VCASU funding is politically motivated. [6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Melbourne Model University of Melbourne, Accessed May 3, 2008
  2. ^ Demand falls as uni shifts to US model The Age, October 17, 2007. Accessed May 3, 2008
  3. ^ NTEU CONDEMNS UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE'S CONSULTATION SHAM OVER ARTS RENEWAL STRATEGY National Tertiary Education Union, July 10, 2007. Accessed May 3, 2008
  4. ^ Cuts take toll on 'overworked' Melbourne Uni staff The Age, April 11, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008
  5. ^ ibid
  6. ^ Vice Chancellor Lies About Introduction of Melbourne Model at VCA VCA Student Union, April 29, 2008. Accessed May 3, 2008

[edit] External links