Meeting Notes 04-11 (April 13, 2011)

Present: Russell Kerr, Jeremy Parker, Adrian Dyer, Adrian Miles, Cathy Greenfield, Karen Trist, Adrian Miles
Apologies: Yoko Akama, Phred Peterson

Have received word from Fiona Peterson that the academic ‘package’ has successfully passed through the next step of the approval process, and so I take from this that we can be confident that the program will be allowed to begin in 2012.

We then discussed some concerns around the research methods/strategies subject offered, and identified that where there is a specific need for a very specific and detailed method, that an alternative methods subject could be undertaken. However, it was also agreed that in general students should be using methods and practices that they are familiar with from their undergraduate study and that honours is not where you begin a new method, from the beginning as it were. To be blunt, honours is not there to address or correct things that may be missing from the undergraduate curriculum.

At the last meeting we had been working on the Media Futures subject. It was agreed that a general statement about the aims of the subject would be prepared, and that this would not outline specific approaches or theories, but provide a framework to let individual teaching staff frame a curriculum.

ACTION: Cathy agreed to write this for tabling at the next meeting.

We then had a long, broad, general, and wandering discussion about the the labs. It was agreed that agreeing upon a method or protocol for how lab themes were to be defined was the key next step. (And then we could actually theme them.) In addition input from Linda Daley (HDR) and Jo Tacchi (Research) would be sought.

ACTION: Adrian Miles to contact Jo and Linda for informal input. Responses to be tabled at the next meeting.
ACTION: all to consider possible scenarios or ways that labs can be defined (what methods or protocols we could have that are clear, understandable, transparent, for how a lab theme is decided upon). These to be discussed at the next meeting.

In addition there are questions around staffing, selection, promotion and marketing, and resourcing that need to be addressed.

ACTION: Adrian Miles to meet with relevant staff to discuss, this to be tabled at first available meeting.

Overall governance of the program also needs to be considered, and defined.

ACTION: Adrian Miles to discuss this with Fiona Peterson, outcomes to be tabled at first available meeting.