Hi everyone and welcome to the MLA by Project programme, Unitec, 2013. My name is Matthew Bradbury, I am a senior lecturer in the Landscape Architecture programme at Unitec and acting programme leader for the Master of Landscape Architecture by Project programme. Peter Connolly, the previous programme leader, has recently joined the Landscape Architecture programme at Victoria as an Associate Professor. I want to thank Peter for his sterling work with the MLA .  For the last three years Peter has been dedicated to making a theoretically robust programme, helping students to realise there own potential for advanced research work and made real cross disciplinary connections. Pete has also been tireless in building a studio culture for master’s by project students with a dedicated workspace that we can now all enjoy. We wish Peter the very best.

This year we have six new candidates from different disciplines and at different stages of their landscape careers, from recent graduate to mid career professionals. We are kicking of the year with a group meeting and orientation on Wednesday the 27^th. We start with a bbq in the Fale courtyard at 12.30 then move to the masters studio where we will introduce ourselves and our areas of research interests, and meet the prospective supervisors. The supervisors will briefly talk about their research interests (and I encourage you to read about them on the blog before we meet). We also have a number of professionals from landscape practice who will talk about their  collaborative projects.

After the meeting please consider who you think would be sympathetic to your research interests, then get in contact with me and we can discuss your choice.   To help you develop your ideas into a research proposal we are planning  an all day proposal workshop on March the 15^th.  This will cover the basics of writing a proposal, where to find material in your field of interest and how to use end note. Working with your supervisor you have seven week to present your research proposal  at the candidature workshop on the 3^rd of May.  

You will then work with your supervisor to develop your research project,  presenting your work at three workshops to a panel of professionals and academics.  The dates for the workshops are on the blog . If you are a full time student  you must present at every workshop, if part time ,every second one. If you pass every workshop then you are eligible to be examined at the subsequent workshop.

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.