Melbourne Free University
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The Melbourne Free University operates according to a manifesto, published on its website.[1]
- The Melbourne Free University combines the academic rigour of a traditional university with the open discussions of a philosophical salon.
- The Melbourne Free University stands for radical equality: the a priori belief in universal equality and possibilities of emancipation.
- The Melbourne Free University is free and accessible. It remains politically and economically autonomous from political parties and organisations, government, private bodies, universities and NGOs.
- The Melbourne Free University is based on the belief that people have the responsibility to seek and engage with knowledge. Learning is an act of will and empowerment.
- The Melbourne Free University is an alternative to the exclusive and outcome orientated education sector, enabling the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, and thereby freedom.
Melbourne Free University's motto is "Think. Discuss. Act."
Founders
Melbourne Free University was co-founded by three colleagues from La Trobe University: Dr. Gerhard Hoffstaedter, a social anthropologist; Dr. Aurelien Mondon, a researcher in politics; and Jasmine-Kim Westendorf, a PhD candidate in politics.
Convenors
As of 2023, the convenors include Emily Foley, Gerald Roche, JJ, Jem, and co-founder Jasmine Westendorf.[1]
Past Courses
For its first semester in 2010, the Melbourne Free University offered four seminars.[2]
MFU's second semester in August 2010 was divided into four 6-week courses.[3]
The first, titled Australian Identities?, was coordinated by Aurelien Mondon. Lecturers and speakers included Aurelien Mondon, Russell Marks, Pamela Curr, Gary Foley and Malcolm Farnsworth.
The second course ran in parallel and was titled Sustainability and Permaculture.[4] It was coordinated by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf. Lecturers and speakers included Ruby Murray, Andrew Foran, Christian Monahan, Susannah Powell, Catherine Johnston and Jodi Newcombe.
The third course, which started on 29 September 2010, was titled I (heart) Philosophy. Coordinated by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf and Gerhard Hoffstaedter, lecturers and speakers include Aurelien Mondon, Miriam Bankovsky, Christopher Cordner, Justin Clemens, Michael Elligate, and Gregory McCormick.
The fourth course, which started on 30 September 2010, was titled The Asia-Pacific and Us: Australia in the Region. Coordinated by Gerhard Hoffstaedter and Michael Webber, lecturers and speakers included Jasmine-Kim Westendorf, Deb Chapman, Gerhard Hoffstaedter, Andrew Kingsford and Michael Webber.
In the summer of 2011–2012, the MFU cooperated with Occupy Melbourne in a course at City Square on issues relating to the global Occupy movement.