Luhmann Group Ro: Statement of Purpose

1. Preamble

The Luhmann Group Ro fundamental purpose entails learning, creativity and practice in the arts, communication and design, based on Difference Theory and the studies of the late scholar, and founder of systems theory, Niklas Luhmann.
It intends to achieve its mission through strategic activities, one of which is to foster a new way of observing and creating art.
A short-term study strategy is emerging with three key elements, namely:
a) the emding of a learning culture revolving around Difference Theory;
b) co-ordination of art activities and collaboration with artists, galleries and culture organizations in the areas of fine art, design, fashion, history and theory of art and design, cultural studies, conservation, media and communication studies, and with multi-media IT applications in all of the foregoing;
c) the achievement of contemporary art projects, to be assisted by the future establishment of an advisory council.

2. The Role of Art Projects

2.1 Active research in the arts, communication and design is vital to the group's mission and central to the creation of a stimulating learning environment in which individuals can fulfil their potential, act with confidence and maintain high standards.
2.2 Projects are also important in its own right to attract and retain high quality academics, and to provide motivation in academic staff to improve teaching. High quality programs underpin research work and, more generally, the training of well-informed and professionally competent students. It provides the vehicle for the development of the full potential of many individuals and the opportunity for them to update and progress their professional practice and qualifications.
2.3 Projects are also vital for maintaining the cutting edge in the curriculum and ensuring the relevance of the curriculum to up-to-date ideas. It also provides students with examples and project work at the frontier of knowledge, creative and professional practice. Multidisciplinary activity is important in terms of the dependence of new advances on art and of fostering inovative projects.
2.4 Projects help sustain relationships with the professions in art and design, the media, industry, commerce and the public sector and enriches the community's creative, cultural, social, economic and recreational activities. It makes students more immediately useful in these professions and it can also facilitate international links.
2.5 The characteristics of projects differ appreciably across disciplines and subjects and cover a wide range of intellectual, scholarly, creative and professional activities.
2.6 Scholarship and pedagogy within the Luhmann Group is intended to expand the boundaries of knowledge and understanding within and across the disciplines by the analysis, synthesis and interpretation of published ideas and information (Internet), making use of a rigorous documented methodology: dissemination of the outcomes of knowledge creation; training of the next generation of knowledge creators; and improving research and teaching methodologies.
a) Creative and Professional Practice: the invention and generation of ideas, hypotheses, images, performances or artefacts, including design, in any field of knowledge, leading to the development of new knowledge, understanding or expertise. Professional practice and associated consultancy may be recognised as research when they are innovatory or original work.