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UNSW and the establishment of the Faculty of Military Studies at the Royal Military College, Duntroon: 1965-1968

Jason David Andrews (School of Business, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia)
James Connor (School of Business, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia)

History of Education Review

ISSN: 0819-8691

Article publication date: 5 October 2015

152

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the establishment of the Faculty of Military Studies (FMS) at the Royal Military College (RMC) at Duntroon between 1965 and 1968. And, in so doing, detail the academic culture and structure of the FMS at its inception in 1968.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the small body of literature on the subject, the chronology of events was developed primarily through archival research and interview transcripts, supplemented by correspondence and formal interviews with former academic staff of the FMS (UNSW HREAP A-12-44).

Findings

This paper reveals the motivations for, issues encountered, and means by which UNSW’s administration under Sir Philip Baxter were willing and able to work with the Army to establish the FMS. In so doing, it reveals the FMS as a “compromise institution” in which the role of UNSW and the academic staff was to deliver a professional education subordinate to the imperatives of the RMC’s socialization and military training regime.

Research limitations/implications

Primary materials were restricted to archived documentation comprised of correspondence and meeting minutes as well as a limited group of witnesses – both willing and able – to provide insight into UNSW and RMC in the mid-1960s.

Originality/value

This paper presents an original account of the establishment of the FMS and the role of Sir Philip Baxter and the UNSW administration in pioneering the institutional forbearer of the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Both authors would like to acknowledge the University of New South Wales, Canberra, Summer Undergraduate Scholarship scheme for supporting the research.

Citation

Andrews, J.D. and Connor, J. (2015), "UNSW and the establishment of the Faculty of Military Studies at the Royal Military College, Duntroon: 1965-1968", History of Education Review, Vol. 44 No. 2, pp. 153-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/HER-04-2013-0016

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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