Michael Bunce

Michael is an impactful higher education leader, music professional, and interdisciplinary learning researcher with international experience working across the arts and education.

Currently leading sound and music topics at Flinders, Michael's professional experience spans work as a music producer, sound designer, composer, and performer (piano, drums, live electronics); and in education as lecturer, course leader, curriculum leader, external examiner, and education consultant, with demonstrated expertise in studio and music production, sound design and composition, live electronic performance, ambisonics, software design and audio programming, and interdisciplinary learning and curriculum design.

At the University of East London (UEL), he designed and led the Masters Sound and Music (featuring specialist pathways in production, performance, and sound and music for media, games, and theatre) and the Masters Global Learning Futures. Previously, between 2014 and 2020, he designed and led the BA (Hons) Music Technology and Production at UEL and established industry partnerships to enhance and enrich the professional currency of music courses and experience for students. As Curriculum Director at Islington Music Workshop (2010 – 2014), he established tertiary provision for the organisation, and led courses in sound and music production, and sound design.

Michael has taught, presented and performed in the UK, Europe, North and South America, and Australia, as well as working as a Music Director and sound designer for the National Youth Theatre, Creative designer and Project Lead for the National Trust, Senior Tutor for the Drake Music Project, and with a range of artists and arts organisations as an independent artist and music producer.

Michael's work in learning design and innovation at UEL featured the design of a project-based dynamic interdisciplinary curriculum framework for the School of Arts and Creative Industries, which he led as Academic Lead for Curriculum Development and Enhancement, resulting in several national and international industry partnerships in the arts and education. In 2020, he received an award for Leading Industry 4.0 Readiness, significantly contributing to the realisation of the university’s strategic vision, Vision 2028. 

Since 2019, Michael's doctoral research in SA has featured interdisciplinary learning innovation projects, working in partnership with innovation experts, Charles Leadbeater and Valerie Hannon, and thirty schools in SA. 

Michael leads the Learning Impact Mapping Project, an innovative approach to the evaluation and recognition of holistic learning, and is consulting with the SACE Board, contributing to subject renewal, applying the Learning Impact Mapping Framework developed through his doctoral research.