Statement on Humanities at ANU

Statement from the VC

Humanities are part of our University’s origin story, and today the work of our students, teachers and researchers remain a source of great pride and expertise. We’re optimistic that we’ll continue to see that flourish and that the changes we are proposing present a once-in-a-generation opportunity for innovation and growth, so that the humanities at ANU can be forward-facing.

Professor Genevieve Bell AO FAHA FTSE FASSA, Vice-Chancellor and President

Statement from the Dean

The College of Arts and Social Sciences at the ANU remains fully committed to the Humanities. This commitment is reflected in our proposal to draw together our existing strengths in the visual arts, music, design, heritage and museum studies, art history and theory, and creative research to create a dynamic, new future-focused School of Creative and Cultural Practice.

Additionally, we are proposing to expand the remit of two other key disciplines: Philosophy, to create a new offer in Ethical Inquiry, and History to formally develop teaching and research in Biographical Studies.

The work of the Humanities Research Centre, including curation of themed opportunities for visiting scholars will continue, but will be embedded within and across all these cognate disciplines.

No existing Humanities disciplines are being disestablished at the ANU. In fact, these proposals will create important new platforms from which to grow the Humanities, sustainably. The proposed retitling of the College to the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences seeks to elevate our historic and future investment in this critically important discipline at the ANU.

Professor Bronwyn Parry, Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences