Every year, hundreds of people are put against each other in rigorous tests for the application to the programme in Acting. But it is not until now that the Theatre Academy seeks permission to use this method.
On the 1 December, applications start for the Bachelor´s Programme in Acting at Malmö Theatre Academy. Last year, 800 people applied for the twelve places in the programme. In order to pick the most appropriate students, the faculty uses specific entry requirements as part of its application process – practical tests, among other things.
But in this year’s application process, one thing might be different: this method of selection can be approved for the first time.
Now, the methods are approved
Previously, the application process has been going on without a formal approval from either Lund University or the Swedish Council for Higher Education. Not until 17 September this year, the education board at the University signed an application from the Theatre Academy stating that specific entry requirements were permitted to be used. At the end of September, it was sent to the Swedish Council for Higher Education, and the matter is currently under consideration.
This is something that should have happened years ago, but which has been avoided by the administrative work of the Theatre Academy. An unfortunate mistake, according to the Vice-Chancellor at the Academy, Anna Lyrevik.
“It is a good thing that the specific requirements are being approved now. It is a sign of negligence that we have not had all the right papers before, but I cannot say why exactly. We have a public application process, and it is no secret that it looks like this”, she says.
“We have assumed that we could do this”
Anna Lyrevik believes that the special activities at the Theatre Academy might have given the administration a false sense of security.
“Many of our programmes are special and require application tests. We have assumed that we could do it the way we have always done it, and we have not been secretive about it”, she says.
For how long have you had this form of application process?
“To my knowledge, it has been like this for a very long time. At least since 1977, I believe”, Anna Lyrevik says.
The admission regulations of Lund University states that an application should be sent to the Council for Higher Education whenever there is a deviation from field-specific requirements in the application process.
This is what has happened during autumn – but the demand for extended field-specific requirements has been there for years. Despite this, Anna Lyrevik does not expect any reprimands.
“I do not think we risk any retroactive measures. No one has yet opposed themselves or sent in an appeal. But I cannot be certain. What is important now is that we have done the right thing and are getting all the right papers – that feels very good”, she says.
Negligence – but not punishable
Tamo Haavisto manages Sektionen Student och utbildning at Lund University. He agrees with Anna Lyrevik: the Theatre Academy might have made a mistake – but he does not believe that they risk a note.
“I don’t think so – I can’t imagine what that would be. This is not good and should not have happened. It should have been taken care of when the new field-specific requirements were introduced”, Tarmo Haavisto says.
How important is this formality really?
“It is not good that they apply this late, but at least the application is in”, he says.
Each faculty is responsible
Tarmo Haavisto points out that every application process for creative programmes are similar across the schools in Sweden. However, he cannot say to what degree other schools have been approved – but holds that it is up to each faculty to check their permissions.
“The faculties are supposed to initiate this process? – then they turn to us for information on regulations”, he says.
The Swedish Council for Higher Education is currently processing the matter. Normally, this takes around six to eight weeks, unless any problems occur with the application. This is according to Frida Lundberg, commissioner at the Council.
Confident about the outcome
But Tarmo Haavisto is confident that no such problems should arise.
“We should have applied for permission from the Council much sooner. But that is not necessarily a problem in getting the permission”, he says.
Anna Lyrevik stepped up as Vice-Chancellor at Malmö Theatre Academy at the turn of this year. Since then, a thorough review of the administration has been started, and she now hopes to avoid discovering similar problems in the future.
“We are currently going through our routines piece by piece in order to see that everything is in place”, she says.
Translation: Carl-William Ersgård
