Swinburne University "dis-establishes" AFI

Foresight Teaching continues as part of Faculty of Business and Enterprise

Recent changes at Swinburne University have resulted in the teaching of foresight now being included within the newly formed Faculty of Business and Enterprise. These changes have also meant that the separate functioning and branding of the Australian Foresight Institute (AFI) and the fostering of “AFI’s” capabilities beyond teaching and possibly academic research do not currently fit with the University’s plans.

On the 4th of April 2005, the Dean of the Faculty of Business and Enterprise called a meeting of the AFI Advisory Board to announce the dis-establishment of the AFI at Swinburne. At this meeting the Dean committed Swinburne to continuing its foresight teaching program and discussed pathways for the foresight program to possibly attain "Research Centre" status within a stricter, quality controlled framework that is being introduced by the University. See the bottom of this page for a list of who attended the meeting, including the most senior members of the AFI advisory board.

The above changes have occurred progressively over the last many months and have been communicated widely during that time. As we are now well into 2005, there has been an active and vibrant start to the foresight teaching year. There has been a new intake of approximately 30 graduate certificate level students enrolled in on-line or by attendance foresight teaching programs at Swinburne. Graduate Diploma and Masters level teaching programs have also been refreshed to reflect the latest perspectives on the teaching of foresight. Significantly, the AFI Advisory Board has decided to continue to seek out options for the AFI and is remaining constituted as a "Board in Trainsition". A number of discussions with Swinburne University regarding its interest in foresight will continue to be conducted by the AFI Advisory Board.

Professor Richard Slaughter has prepared his thoughts on these changes, click here to read his speacial message to students and alumni of the AFI: A note to AFIA members from Professor Richard Slaughter

The AFIA has been actively involved in a number of discussions relating to the above changes:
• How do we support and help promote the foresight teaching program at Swinburne so that it continues to develop
• Can we help create opportunities to justify attainment of "Swinburne Research Centre" status for the foresight program
• Does AFI need to continue in a new form; what would this be and how would it operate
• What is the role of AFIA within the greater foresight field?

If you wish to be involved in the above discussions or just want to know more about this, please contact an AFIA Committee Member. Click here for names and details of your current AFIA Committee Members - AFIACommittee.

As Professor Slaughter says in his message it's really up to the Australian Foresight Community to decide if this is a stimulus for new beginnings.

List of those present at the AFI Advisory Board Meeting of 4th April 2005

AFI Advisory Board
Patron: The Hon Dr Barry Jones AO
Mr Kevin Luscombe AM
Dr Richard Hames (Chair)
Ms Susan Oliver (apology)
Prof Adolph Hanich
Ms Linda Condon
Dr Joseph Voros (Acting Director of the AFI)

and in attendance were

AFI Staff
Mr Peter Hayward
Dr Giovanna Braidotti
Ms Rowena Morrow

AFI Alumni Reps
Ms Cate Turner
Mr Serafino De Simone

Faculty of Business and Enteprise
Prof David Hayward (Dean, FBE)
Dr Trish Buckley (Acting Deputy Dean)
Mr Gerard Shanahan (Facuty Manager)
Ms Kathleen Lynch (Secretariat)