New faculty arrangements

Updated Wednesday 4 December 2024

The new Faculty of Arts and Education and the expanded Faculty of Engineering and Design will come into effect on 6 January 2025.
 
Confirmed academic leadership and professional staff structures for the new faculty and expanded Faculty of Engineering are currently being established after extensive staff consultation. Transition teams have been working closely with leadership and staff to ready us for operations from January onward.
 
Until 6 January 2025, the existing faculties of Arts, Creative Arts and Industries, Education and Social Work, and Engineering will continue to operate under their current structures and processes. Leadership continuity has been ensured, with interim roles appointed where necessary to support operations through the end of the year.
 
Further updates will be provided as we approach the official launch of the new and expanded faculties.
Transition information for staff

Faculty names

Following consideration of faculty names at the Senate meeting on 11 November 2024, the Vice Chancellor has confirmed that the new faculty and expanded faculty of Engineering will be known as:

  • Faculty of Arts and Education
  • Faculty of Engineering and Design

In partnership with the Office of Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, a te reo Māori name was also gifted to the Faculty of Arts and Education: Te Pūtahi Mātauranga, which means “the confluence of knowledges/disciplines and of knowing.”

The Faculty of Engineering and Design is currently undergoing a similar process with the Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori to determine its te reo Māori name, which will be announced shortly.

Naming process

Both faculties followed a consistent approach to name selection, involving surveys and workshops that provided opportunities for impacted staff and students to engage in discussions. Thank you to all who participated and shaped these important decisions.

Faculty leadership

Faculty of Arts and Education

  • Dean - Professor Nuala Gregory
  • Academic and professional leadership structures will come into effect in January 2025.

Faculty of Engineering and Design

  • Dean - Associate Professor Richard Clarke·
  • Academic and professional leadership structures will come into effect in January 2025.

Feedback

At its meeting on 12 June 2024, the University Council decided to move forward with:

  • The creation of a new faculty, combining the following: 
    • Faculty of Arts
    • Faculty of Education and Social Work
    • Elam School of Fine Arts
    • School of Music
    • Dance Programme
  • The alignment of the School of Architecture and Planning and the Design Programme with the Faculty of Engineering.

This decision follows the review of extensive feedback from staff and students.

Overview

In March 2024, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland proposed a change to its faculty arrangements for four faculties to enhance collaboration, interdisciplinary work, and research opportunities, positioning the institution for the evolving tertiary education environment.

The Arts, Creative Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences have been integral to the University's commitment to academic comprehensiveness and societal impact. Despite their vital roles, they faced declining student demand over the past decade, leading to funding and resource allocation challenges, aligning with trends observed in universities nationally and internationally.

By realigning our faculties, we aimed to proactively shape our academic landscape, ensuring resilience to challenges and making strategic decisions that benefit students, staff, and the broader community.

Drivers for change

  • Enhance collaboration across and within faculties
  • Strengthen resilience in our areas of excellence
  • Enable increased strategic capacity for future success
  • Enhance inter- and trans-disciplinary research
  • Broaden career development opportunities for academic, professional and technical staff

 

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