The Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said the University’s response to the comprehensive May review by Dr Ziggy Switkowski followed extensive consideration by a steering committee led by the Vice-Chancellor, with input from the faculty itself and consultation with the VCA Integration Committee.

“Principally, the University endorses the review’s recommendation that VCAM continue as a single faculty, but comprising two discrete parts to be known initially as the VCA and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Each part will be led by a Director, which will be a new position reporting to the Dean,” Professor Dewar said.

“The response also endorses the committee’s recommendations on the future curriculum of the Faculty. These include suspending the proposed introduction of the Melbourne Model for the visual and performing arts disciplines based at the Southbank campus, pending a review of curriculum,’’ he said.

The curriculum review will include the faculty’s courses, teaching practices and the feasibility of offering an exclusively practice-based Associate Diploma and Graduate Diploma degree program.

As recommended by the Switkowski Review, the review will be guided firmly by the principles that curriculum must be financially sustainable, that studio-practice remain central to tuition, and that talent-based entry be reaffirmed. The Provost or nominee will lead the review, with a brief to report back by 31 December 2010. The University will also work with the Faculty to identify additional revenue streams to help achieve the objective of financial sustainability for the Faculty.

“The University has undertaken, through the review process, to ensure the Faculty has a vibrant, sustainable future,’’ Professor Dewar said. “Through these changes, the Faculty can remain an important part of the University and continue to deliver an arts education of the highest calibre.’’

Professor Dewar said as part of the new direction, the Dean, Professor Sharman Pretty, would resign from the position. “The University's response has clarified that the future directions of the Faculty, and hence the role of Dean within that context, will be significantly different to that to which Professor Pretty was appointed. As a result Professor Pretty has decided to step down, as such a different role is not one that she would be interested to pursue,’’ he said.

“Professor Pretty came to us after holding distinguished appointments as an educational leader in the arts both in Australia and New Zealand, which had followed a career in music as a performer, teacher and arts manager. She proved to be a highly intelligent, articulate and committed leader. She tackled a very challenging task with great energy and resilience, informed by a wide knowledge of the advancement of the arts internationally. The University is grateful for her many initiatives and achievements, including achieving major support to secure the future of the Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development, and building partnerships with the Royal College of Music London and the Shanghai Conservatory through the recent Global Ensemble project at the Shanghai Expo, and locally through the relationship with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and other professional arts organisations. Her vision for the future of the Southbank campus as a performing arts precinct of international distinction, combining our educational activities with the work of Melbourne’s professional performing companies, is one we will be exploring very seriously,’’ Professor Dewar said.

Professor Pretty said: “The University has a responsibility to act in what it believes to be the best interests of the entire organisation. As such, it has changed its approach in response to changing circumstances. It seems to me that others will be better placed to realise the new direction.

“I wish the University every success in its new plans for VCAM. I pay tribute to the extraordinary focus and resilience of all the staff and students of VCAM through a very difficult few years, and hope that the University’s proposal for the future will deliver the desired outcomes for all stakeholders.’’

The University will announce interim arrangements for the leadership of VCAM next week.

The full text of the University’s response, “The Future of the Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Melbourne,” may be viewed at: http://www.unimelb.edu.au...