University of Otago design students have made a submission against the proposed changes to the Applied Sciences Department. The proposal, which students became aware of earlier this month, would see the removal of Design for Technology and Clothing and Textiles as major subjects.
The 16-page document, which was submitted on 24 July, outlines “what design is, how it is valuable, possible futures for the department, and students’ expectations”. The students also highlight links to the design industry, the value of Otago graduates to this industry, and how the proposed changes will affect their futures.
Addressed to the Division of Sciences pro-vice chancellor, Professor Keith Hunter, the submission says the proposal “has come as a shock” to students. “It has been presented at a busy time of the year and has put a lot of pressure on already high workloads.”
The submission highlights the success of Otago design students, with particular reference to their audit of Air New Zealand’s on-board food system. In 2011, students and practitioners from the department “applied their design learning” and saved the airline NZD$11.9m in fuel. “[This] goes to show the power that design has in the changing world around us.”
Mention was also made of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reports in 2013 and 2014. These reports “show the importance of design fields in New Zealand industries and highlight the growing need for strategic design solutions both locally and internationally”.
The submission urges the department to look at alternative proposals, many which have already been put forward by external parties.
These proposals, the submission says, “show a promising future for the study of design at Otago … With the support of the university, [Otago] has the potential to become the premier tertiary educator for human-centred design in New Zealand.”
Students have also created a petition against the proposal, which can be signed here:
