Peter McPhee (academic)
Encyclopedia
Peter McPhee is an Australia
n academic, and was the Provost
of the University of Melbourne
. He is the first person to have held the position at Melbourne, as it has typically been in place at universities in the United States
and the United Kingdom
.
McPhee was educated at Caulfield Grammar School
and studied at the University of Melbourne, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, a Diploma in Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy
degree. He later taught at LaTrobe University (1975-79) and the Victoria University of Wellington
(1980-86) before teaching history at Melbourne. He specialises in research on French history and the French Revolution
, having published numerous books on the subject. His academic management positions at Melbourne have included working as Deputy Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, head of the Department of History, and President of the university's academic board. In 2003 he became the deputy Vice-Chancellor for academics, and in 2007 was appointed as the inaugural Provost. As part of this role he has been responsible for planning and introducing the university's controversial new Melbourne Model
, which is designed to maintain consistency with the Bologna Accords'
structure for European higher education.
In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal
for services to education.
Peter McPhee retired from the University of Melbourne on June 14, 2009, but continues to serve as a Professorial Fellow.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n academic, and was the Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. He is the first person to have held the position at Melbourne, as it has typically been in place at universities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
McPhee was educated at Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
and studied at the University of Melbourne, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, a Diploma in Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree. He later taught at LaTrobe University (1975-79) and the Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
(1980-86) before teaching history at Melbourne. He specialises in research on French history and the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, having published numerous books on the subject. His academic management positions at Melbourne have included working as Deputy Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, head of the Department of History, and President of the university's academic board. In 2003 he became the deputy Vice-Chancellor for academics, and in 2007 was appointed as the inaugural Provost. As part of this role he has been responsible for planning and introducing the university's controversial new Melbourne Model
Melbourne Model
The Melbourne Model is a radical restructuring of the undergraduate curriculum of the University of Melbourne, located in Victoria, Australia, one of the country's richest universities...
, which is designed to maintain consistency with the Bologna Accords'
Bologna process
The purpose of the Bologna Process is the creation of the European Higher Education Area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe, in particular under the Lisbon Recognition Convention...
structure for European higher education.
In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
for services to education.
Peter McPhee retired from the University of Melbourne on June 14, 2009, but continues to serve as a Professorial Fellow.