Issues Paper regarding the proposed establishment of courses in editing at AC Arts
Background
Committee members Celia Jellett, Rosemary Luke and Susan Rintoul met Sue Fleming and Liz Packer, Joint Coordinators, AC Arts, Adelaide TAFE on 8 July 2008 for a discussion about establishing a new course in editing at AC Arts.
The professional writing course at AC Arts has a very good reputation, mainly because of the calibre of the practising professional writers who have been involved in it. It is quite untypical of TAFE courses that teach trades. A great many students of this course have been graduates of various disciplines who embrace the opportunity to study part-time while they are employed, and to receive industry-standard advice on their work. Applicants for this course go through SATAC, and a mix of school leavers, graduates and other interested people apply for it.
The opportunity exists to create an editing strand to the existing advanced diploma course in professional writing. It would include as an option a ‘Negotiated Project’, where the student would take on the editing of a long document under the mentorship of a qualified editor. This would model the situation of a trainee editor in a workplace, that is, learning on the job. At the 8 July meeting three options were discussed: a graduate certificate in editing, an editing strand for the existing Advanced Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing) or short fee-for-service courses. The committee has agreed that the first two options are the ones it would like to consider further. It is suggested that the content of such courses would be based on Australian Standards for Editing Practice. There are possible advantages and disadvantages to both. Both the advanced diploma and the graduate certificate could serve industry and society needs. It doesn’t have to be either/or. For example, for members of the society with some experience in editing, the graduate certificate might be the best option. For new entrants to the profession, and associate members or members hitherto unqualified and/or possibly who are planning to write creatively, the advanced diploma might be preferred. Three processes need to be begun in the first instance:
1. Establish sector needs.
Suggestions have been made that the committee should canvass the opinions of society members as to whether or not they would be interested in enrolling in either of these options.
2. Establish society needs.
Although either option or both options could be considered, the committee needs members’ responses before it can take discussions further.
3. Discuss with TAFE how these are best addressed.
The proposed awards
Graduate certificate
A graduate certificate equates to one semester full-time and would be offered as a one-year, part-time course (In line with other courses offered by TAFE at AC Arts, most of the course would be online, with work submitted regularly by students and feedback from part-time instructors (practising editors employed in the industry), with limited face-to-face classes). Delivering the course wholly online would offer the opportunity to offer the course interstate. The course would have to comply with the national guidelines described in the Australian Qualifications Framework, and be approved by the Higher Education Unit in TAFESA.
Eligibility for enrolment is planned to be structured in an inclusive way. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) would be available to members of the Society of Editors (or IPEd) who have been full members for a period (i.e. working professionally in the field). As is TAFE policy, enrolments are looked at individually. The costing is, of course, a preliminary one. There are costs for funding and for development that TAFE will need to consider. The major cost in running a course is face-to-face contact with instructors. It is hoped to contain the cost to the student to about $1200–$1500.
Advanced Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing – Editing)
The current Advanced Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing) could be modified to form three elective strands: Creative, Online and Editing. The advanced diploma is two years’ full-time (but offered as four years’ part-time study). The current editing subject mentioned below already offered by AC Arts would be retained as a core subject, and two or three new editing subjects would be written. The remaining elective in the editing stream would be taken from other electives available in the Advanced Diploma of Arts (Professional Writing). At the moment the contact with teaching staff is more than four times that for the proposed graduate certificate.
It is planned that much of this course would also go online, but there is an internal (by attending classes) option, which many students prefer.
Eligibility for enrolment is also structured in an inclusive way, and in accordance with national guidelines for accredited courses. Students can provide proof of academic attainment and apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Current students in this course vary from school leavers to older age people, some with graduate qualifications in other fields. All prospective students need to sit for a test of their writing skills.
The advanced diploma is a state-government subsidised program for which students pay a substantially reduced price. The costing varies for subjects in the advanced diploma, and a rough estimate, based on a cost of around $100 per subject is about $1400.