Invitation to the AUHE Annual Forum 2013
Dear colleagues,
We are writing to invite you to the second annual Australian Universities Heads of
English Forum, which will be held in conjunction with the November meeting of the
Academy of the Humanities on the 13th of November 2013, 10am-4pm, at the
University of Queensland.
Last year the inaugural meeting of the AUHE was held. Minutes to this meeting are
attached here. In summary however, it was decided that we should
1. Meet annually to discuss issues of urgent importance to the discipline of
English
2. Meet to offer overviews of local institutional developments and work towards
developing a clear overview of the national state of the discipline
3. Develop a set of strategic responses to key issues facing our discipline at a
national level – the need for cross-institutional benchmarking, research
funding, the relationship between secondary and tertiary curricula
4. Establish an office to support the Group
5. Organise working parties to consider specific issues
An office has now been established at the University of Newcastle under the
leadership of the AUHE Secretary Dr Jesper Gulddal.
Two working parties are currently working on the following issues:
1. Benchmarking the Discipline of English
2. Links between Secondary and Tertiary Curriculum in English
These working parties will report to the meeting on November 13th.
A number of issues need to be resolved at the next meeting and your input here would
be invaluable.
1. The executive committee needs to be elected
2. An effective method of communication to the group – via website? Mailing
list?
3. Should members need to report on the state of things in the discipline in their
University and respond to an annual questionnaire? We need to set up an
effective method of individual heads reporting to the association about the
state of the discipline in their institution. Should it be done by questionnaire
or in a more discursive form that highlights key changes that have occurred
through the year, eg., significant drops or increases in enrolments,
faculty/disciplinary/ departmental restructures, etc., We could do this in the
form of a questionnaire if people feel that would be helpful
4. We need to discuss the links between AUHE and existing associations
dedicated to the study and research of literature in English, including
Australian Literature, such as, ASAL, AAL, AUMLA the English Association
and other associations related to the discipline.
5. To map out the ongoing role of this forum, such as formulating
responses/position papers that address issues of research funding and the
institutional place of English as a discipline within Australian Universities,
providing a centralized reporting structure and discussion forum that addresses
enrollments, curriculum related issues – including institutional pressures to
contract programmes, as well as pedagogic strategies for teaching English at a
tertiary and secondary level.
If you are able to attend please let us know as soon as possible. If you are unable
attend, could you please suggest someone you feel would be able and interested in
participating.
Like last year, the Australian Academy of the Humanities has kindly provided a
limited amount of funding in support of delegates unable to secure travel funding
from their home institutions. If you wish to apply for a contribution towards your
airfares, please contact the secretariat/Jesper Gulddal (auhe@newcastle.edu.au) by
Wednesday 9th October.
Yours Sincerely,
Anthony Uhlmann, Helen Groth, Jesper Gulddal, Brigitta Olubas