I was told some news today that is hard to believe – that Box Hill TAFE will no longer accept new students into their jewellery course [technically named: Advanced Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design]. So the current students will graduate, but after they’re gone there will be no more jewellers graduating from Box Hill.
My source is thoroughly reliable … but this stumped me … I cannot quite believe it (like I couldn’t quite believe that Monash was stopping jewellery speciality too).
Is it really truly true?
[you can make comments anonymously if you’d prefer]
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Update (25th November): please see the comments, this has been confirmed
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Update (27th November): while Box Hill may be closing down, reports are that Monash have NOT dumped jewellery but have restructured how it will be taught in their degree – see the excellent post by Melissa Cameron explaining more – thanks Melissa! so all is not lost after all…
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Update (28th November): a comment has been made on this post by Box Hill, which I’ll repeat here:
“Box Hill Institute regretfully confirms that we are not offering the Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design course for 2014. This course has been very successful for many years. There are many Box Hill Jewellery design graduates in the industry who are extremely talented and are enjoying great success in the industry. We wish to thank the excellent staff for their wonderful contribution over the years. Box Hill Institute would also like to thank our industry partners for their support over the years.”
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Melbourne Jeweller 
That’s sad news. As we say these days, at least there’s North City 4.
I haven’t had any confirmation from anyone else yet, so we can hold out on it perhaps not being true … maybe?
You’re absolutely right – thank all things good for NC4
No more Box Hill jewellery is unfortunately true. Prospective students are being turned away. I’ve heard a rumour that it’s a decision made by the institute administration on the basis of any course not generating a profit being cancelled regardless of ongoing demand from prospective students and the thousands of dollars being invested in workshop facilities in recent years. I think the administration should have shown some intelligence and supported the brilliant staff in resolving development of a jewellery degree program.
Thank the gods for NC4.
Best wishes to all the former teaching and technical staff of BHI jewellery for the magnificent job they have done.
Thank you so much for commenting J.
It is sad indeed.
What’s the formal jewellery education world in Melbourne coming to?!
on a brighter note, perhaps NC4 can pick up the outgoing Box Hill jewellery and manufacturing studio equipment?
now it would be more community minded of Tafe to DONATE the equipment …..
Hey Karen,
My words on the Monash jewellery situation were a little too long to fit here, so thanks for the impetus to finish this post (http://www.melissacameron.net/blog/?p=5707) – it’s been on the to-do list for too long.
xx
Melissa
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It is indeed sad about the closing of the Box Hill course. The education system in Australia has been undergoing massive changes over the last 10 years and is still in a state of flux. Unfortunately the course administrators are struggling to adapt to new models with reduced funding and all the while trying to justify courses that don’t “make money”.
One of the motivations for the creation of Northcity4 was a response to these issues. Northcity4 doesn’t offer formal qualifications, but what we want to do is to maintain that strong sense of fraternity and sharing of knowledge which is such a unique and special quality of the jewellery community in Melbourne.
Thank you Karen, Kevin and J for your support and love for Northcity4. We really appreciate it.
Thanks Anna!
It must be heartbreaking for those staff who genuinely love their courses but find the education funding models are forcing them to make shortcuts and compromises … and even worse to be in the position where the course they’ve put so much into is removed from curriculum.
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Box Hill Institute regretfully confirms that we are not offering the Diploma of Jewellery and Object Design course for 2014. This course has been very successful for many years. There are many Box Hill Jewellery design graduates in the industry who are extremely talented and are enjoying great success in the industry. We wish to thank the excellent staff for their wonderful contribution over the years.
Hi Suzanne
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
It is sad for all the staff and potential students… but the reality of tertiary education is that the demand for, and support of, a course isn’t always enough to guarantee continuation.
Best wishes
Karen
Box Hill Institute would also like to thank our industry partners for their support over the years.
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