Research Training in the Creative & Performing Arts & Design

Elaine Thomas

Professor Thomas (1969–2019) was, from 2000, director of the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, retiring as vice-chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts in 2011.

This report presents the findings of the working group established in 1999 by the UK Council for Graduate Education to explore the issue of research training for post-graduate students in the creative and performing arts and design.

The Working Group was convened by Professor Elaine Thomas, Director of the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College. Other members of the group were Professor Graham Barber, Head of Department of Music, University of Leeds; Professor Sandra Harris, Dean of Graduate Studies, Nottingham Trent University (UK Council for Graduate Education); Dr Michael Jubb, Director of Programmes, Arts and Humanities Research Board; Professor Janet Lansdale, Professor of Dance Studies, University of Surrey; Professor Malcolm Le Grice, Head of Research, Central St Martins College of Art & Design, the London Institute; Chris Rust, Reader in Design, Sheffield Hallam University; Dr Victor Sage, Reader in English and Chair of Graduate Studies, East Anglia University and Professor Martin White, Professor of Theatre and Graduate Dean of Arts, University of Bristol.

If there had been any expectation that the group would agree some common basic structure for a research degree in the arts or a single framework for methodology this was quickly dispelled. 
p.16
Visit the main UK Council for Graduate Education website