We demand that Unitec rescind its decision to make redundant 50 highly qualified and proven teachers/technicians in the Design and Visual Arts Department.
Unitec owes its current students the same quality, quantity and consistency of education as met by the 2013 DVA programmes. We insist that the proposed 17 replacement staff cannot deliver the same value of education to over 570 students who were previously taught by over 50 staff. This action by Unitec is at the expense of their current student's education.
Unitec's intention to replace experienced, trained staff with part-time and itinerant providers from industry is evidence of their failure to provide the quality of staff described in the Design and Visual Arts Handbook 2013, and demonstrated by previous education years.
We have the right to complete our degrees with the appropriate number of qualified teachers and technicians supporting us. We demand that changes towards the proposed new DVA degrees - including staff changes - should not in any way affect the quality of the delivery of our current education.
Updates
November 27, 2013
The petition has reached one thousand signatures. This milestone confirms that our concern regarding the quality of education provided to Design and Visual Arts students is widely shared by the academic community.
Reached 1,000 supporters
November 26, 2013
November 25, 2013
The groundswell of support for this cause reflects the deep concern students feel regarding the future of our department. This momentum demonstrates that the quality of our education remains a priority for many people.
Reached 100 supporters
November 23, 2013
November 23, 2013
The administration is monitoring our progress as we approach the one hundred signature milestone. Please assist in bringing this petition to the attention of your peers to ensure our concerns remain visible to leadership.
556 Comments
You cannot replace 50 teacher with 17. I work in creative industry and I already find new graduates in New Zealand lacking necessary skills. This move will only increase this problem and will reduce the standard of education in New Zealand
17 staff cannot deliver the education 50 experienced staff have been. I find the treatment of long standing education providers by the institution appalling and the disregard for a balanced education in favour of economics unacceptable.
Whilst the CEO gets a handsome wage rise to over $500K per year, others now face redundancy. Whilst tertiary institutes must be business-like in their approach, Unitec has been very poor at doing what's also right and fair for staff (and indirectly - students).
The increased casualisation of tertiary education in NZ is compromising the quality of education. In order to maintain our institutions reputations as quality teritary providers we need to ensure academic staff are appropriately qualified and treat them well.
It is absurd to reduce staff in this way and say it will not harm the students and it is not about money. This is a blatant attack on the teaching body and the integrity of the programme. Shame on UNITEC's management for wanton vandalism of an academic institution
I agree
These are are more than teachers. They are mentors. Art practise is not only about art but it is a personal journey and these people guide to use your personal choices and experiences into careers.
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We demand that Unitec rescind its decision to make redundant 50 highly qualified and proven teachers/technicians in the Design and Visual Arts Department.
Unitec owes its current students the same quality, quantity and consistency of education as met by the 2013 DVA programmes. We insist that the proposed 17 replacement staff cannot deliver the same value of education to over 570 students who were previously taught by over 50 staff. This action by Unitec is at the expense of their current student's education.
Unitec's intention to replace experienced, trained staff with part-time and itinerant providers from industry is evidence of their failure to provide the quality of staff described in the Design and Visual Arts Handbook 2013, and demonstrated by previous education years.
We have the right to complete our degrees with the appropriate number of qualified teachers and technicians supporting us. We demand that changes towards the proposed new DVA degrees - including staff changes - should not in any way affect the quality of the delivery of our current education.
Updates
November 27, 2013
The petition has reached one thousand signatures. This milestone confirms that our concern regarding the quality of education provided to Design and Visual Arts students is widely shared by the academic community.
Reached 1,000 supporters
November 26, 2013
November 25, 2013
The groundswell of support for this cause reflects the deep concern students feel regarding the future of our department. This momentum demonstrates that the quality of our education remains a priority for many people.
Reached 100 supporters
November 23, 2013
November 23, 2013
The administration is monitoring our progress as we approach the one hundred signature milestone. Please assist in bringing this petition to the attention of your peers to ensure our concerns remain visible to leadership.
556 Comments
I currently work in the Profession of architecture and know through talking to many principle architects that they would not hire students from Unitec if the same outcome happens to the LAND. I can imagine the same is happening in the Design world
You cannot replace 50 teacher with 17. I work in creative industry and I already find new graduates in New Zealand lacking necessary skills. This move will only increase this problem and will reduce the standard of education in New Zealand
17 staff cannot deliver the education 50 experienced staff have been. I find the treatment of long standing education providers by the institution appalling and the disregard for a balanced education in favour of economics unacceptable.
Whilst the CEO gets a handsome wage rise to over $500K per year, others now face redundancy. Whilst tertiary institutes must be business-like in their approach, Unitec has been very poor at doing what's also right and fair for staff (and indirectly - students).
The increased casualisation of tertiary education in NZ is compromising the quality of education. In order to maintain our institutions reputations as quality teritary providers we need to ensure academic staff are appropriately qualified and treat them well.
It is absurd to reduce staff in this way and say it will not harm the students and it is not about money. This is a blatant attack on the teaching body and the integrity of the programme. Shame on UNITEC's management for wanton vandalism of an academic institution
I agree
These are are more than teachers. They are mentors. Art practise is not only about art but it is a personal journey and these people guide to use your personal choices and experiences into careers.
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I currently work in the Profession of architecture and know through talking to many principle architects that they would not hire students from Unitec if the same outcome happens to the LAND. I can imagine the same is happening in the Design world