By Eleanor Wilson
Just one week after announcing it would cancel its Bachelor of Arts program in 2023, Federation University has reneged on the decision.
Federation acting vice chancellor Liam Sloan announced on Friday 12 August that the arts program will in fact continue, undergoing a comprehensive review to meet student and industry needs.
“As part of Federation University Australia’s commitment to the communities that we serve, we have listened to staff and the community, and have made the decision that the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program will continue in 2023,” he said.
“We will review the BA to ensure it is fit for purpose to be delivered as part of our Australian first co-operative education model, for regional students wanting a head start on a successful career and for regional employers wanting graduates primed for the workplace.
“We look forward to working with staff and extended communities to ensure that our Arts programs lead to successful career outcomes for students and help to drive growth in our communities.”
The National Tertiary Education Union has called the reversal “a major victory”.
“Working together, we have saved the jobs of hard-working staff who were left devastated by the arbitrary shutting down of a core university offering,” NTEU Federation University Branch President Mathew Abbott said.
“It’s a huge victory for regional students and university staff who deserve access to an arts program without having to leave their communities and move to metropolitan areas.”
NTEU Victorian Division Assistant Secretary Sarah Roberts added that the union’s backlash to the decision had sent a clear message to all university managements.
“Arts graduates make society stronger. Universities must factor the cost of running an arts program into all business decisions,” she said.
“Vice-Chancellors have been put on notice: we will fight and win when jobs and communities’ access to higher education are under threat.”
The Arts program is run at several of the university’s campuses, including its Berwick campus.
It comes alongside an announcement that Federation University will embed a ‘co-operative education model’ across all of its courses from 2025, providing academic credit to students for undertaking workplace experience.
To gain the practical skills employers are looking for, every student enrolled in a course at the university will complete accredited learning in a workplace, start up or consultancy, with options for paid cadetships, internships, or working on real projects on campus to deliver practical outcomes for industry.
Mr Sloan said the University will be the first choice for regional students wanting a head start on a successful career and for regional employers wanting graduates primed for the workplace.
“Students will benefit from working on projects in real workplaces, delivering practical outcomes for industry, government, and not-for-profits, with the work experience they gain contributing to their academic record,” He said.
