The Australian National University (ANU) is facing a significant transformation as it seeks to address a projected $200 million deficit. Central to this restructuring is the controversial proposal to absorb the School of Music into a new School of Creative and Cultural Practice. This move, aimed at curbing spending, has sparked widespread debate among students and faculty.
According to Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell, the restructuring is part of a broader initiative to save $250 million, which will result in a “smaller university.” The proposal includes the elimination of seven positions within the School of Music, five of which are currently filled, and a shift away from traditional one-on-one instrumental lessons.
Student and Faculty Reactions
Oliver Djurkovic, a Masters of Music student who relocated from Serbia to study at ANU, has been vocal about his opposition. “Getting rid of one-on-one instrumental lessons at a music school defies any logic of how a music school should operate,” he stated. Djurkovic, along with other students, has organized under the banner “No Cuts at ANU” and plans to protest the changes.
Peter Tregear, a former head of the School of Music, also criticized the proposal, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the current teaching model. “We need to be pretty aware that some of the motivations for pushing in this direction are not pedagogical, they’re economic,” Tregear remarked.
Economic Pressures and Institutional Challenges
The financial pressures facing ANU are not unique, as universities globally grapple with funding constraints. However, the situation at ANU is compounded by findings from the Nixon Report, which highlighted widespread issues of harassment and bullying within the university. Tregear pointed out that addressing these cultural issues should be a priority over drastic curriculum changes.
“If the ANU is serious about reform, it needs to address fundamental cultural issues first,” Tregear asserted.
Meanwhile, Lachlan Clohesy, the National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary, argued that the performance model of the School of Music is what sets it apart. “This is the latest attempt by a vice-chancellor to try to save a few bucks by trashing something that’s really important,” Clohesy said.
ANU’s Vision for the Future
Despite the backlash, ANU’s Research School of Humanities and the Arts director, Kate Mitchell, defended the proposal. She emphasized that the changes aim to modernize the curriculum and respond to evolving trends in music education. “The proposal changes that the School of Music has made to its curriculum tries to have a more holistic approach,” Mitchell explained.
Mitchell also noted that the new structure is not merely a cost-saving measure but a reflection of contemporary creative practices. “In the contemporary context, those creative industries tend to be across multiple media, across disciplinary boundaries between art and music,” she said.
“We’ll still have a music program, an art program, a design program but we want to create a context that reflects the way creativity is engaged with today,” Mitchell added.
Implications and Next Steps
The proposed changes at ANU highlight a broader trend in higher education, where institutions are increasingly pressured to balance financial sustainability with academic integrity. The outcome of this restructuring will likely influence how other universities approach similar challenges.
As the debate continues, affected staff have three weeks to provide feedback on the proposal. The student protests are set to begin when classes resume on July 21, signaling a period of heightened tension and uncertainty at the university.
Ultimately, the decision will test ANU’s ability to navigate financial constraints while maintaining its reputation as a leading institution for music education. Whether the School of Music can thrive under the new model remains to be seen, but the stakes are undeniably high for all involved.
