Interdisciplinary training and articulation in the creative arts

Title

Interdisciplinary training and articulation in the creative arts: renewals and opportunities

Author(s)

Meg Keating, School of Creative Arts
Toby Juliff, School of Creative Arts

Subtheme

Making a Difference for Students

Presentation Type

Showcase Presentation

Room

Social Sciences 213

Time

12.55-13.15

Abstract

Following the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) report into Graduate Research Training (2016), new National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA) block-funding calculations for Research Training Programs (2015), and our own institutional strategic research plan (2014), we report back on the latest in HDR curriculum renewal at SOCA. This paper discusses the preparedness of our candidates to undertake collaborative and interdisciplinary research and the development of a new suite of methodological units and digital resources. This project takes a longitudinal approach in revising and renewing HDR training across the newly formed School of Creative Arts and its incorporation into the new College of Arts, Laws, and Education (CALE). Reflecting back on previous training opportunities, we saw the necessity in revitalising interdisciplinary training and reorienting our HDR units to align more closely with the broader national and institutional agendas. Taking an approach that encompasses curricula renewal at Associate, Undergraduate, and Honours level and the UTAS commitment to a four-year model of undergraduate degrees (University of Tasmania, 2016a), this renewal and commitment to co-produced knowledge creation, collaboration, industry responsiveness, and ethical preparedness is being established through a number of capstone unit changes and program strategies that seek to embed research challenges earlier than ever before, and establish a community of research that stretches from within and outside.

This presentation briefly discusses the renewal of FSA506 Creative Practice Research, a newly formed HDR training unit focussed on interdisciplinary research methodologies. Trialled in 2017, we hope to roll out this new unit to Research Masters and PhD candidates as an online unit in 2018, with the longer view of extending to Honours in 2019 and beyond.

Through a longitudinal approach towards curricula renewal across undergraduate, Honours, and HDR programmes, and the desire to establish applied and research pathways earlier and enabling articulation (Normore, 2014), we are taking the approach that collaborative practices and the co-production can be instrumentalised across every level at the University and that each level plays a vital role in building a resilient and responsive research community (University of Tasmania, 2016b).

References

Department of Education and Training. (2016). Research Training Scheme, Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia, https://www.education.gov.au/research-training-scheme, accessed 16.09.16.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. (2015). National Innovation and Science Agenda. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

Normore, AH, Hamdan, K, Lahera I (eds). (2014). Pathways to Excellence: Developing and Cultivating Leaders for the Classroom and Beyond, Vol 21, Emerald Publishing Group.

University of Tasmania. (2014), Strategic Research Plan 2014-2018, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, University of Tasmania.

University of Tasmania. (2016a). Degrees of Difference: Design Elements for Bachelor Degrees. Retrieved from: https://secure.utas.edu.au/curriculum-renewal-secure/documents/degrees-of-difference-design-elements-for-bachelor-degrees.pdf, accessed 5.10.19.

University of Tasmania. (2016b), The University of Tasmania Curriculum 2025 White Paper. Sandy Bay, Tasmania.