Michael Bunce

Michael is an impactful higher education leader and music professional with international experience working across the arts and education sectors.

Currently course coordinator for the BA in Music at Flinders University, Michael's professional experience spans work as a music producer, sound designer, composer, and performer (piano, drums, live electronics); and in education as a lecturer, course leader, curriculum leader, external examiner, and education consultant, with demonstrated expertise in the fields of studio and music production, sound design and composition, live electronic performance, multi-speaker diffusion, software design and audio programming, and interdisciplinary learning and curriculum design.

At the University of East London (UEL), he designed and led the Masters in Sound and Music (featuring specialist pathways in production, performance, and sound and music for media, games, and theatre) and the Masters in 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 at universities 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 creation and implementation 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. 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. 

During the past 6 years, as part of Michael's doctoral research based in South Australia, he has led interdisciplinary learning innovation research projects, working in partnership with innovation experts, Charles Leadbeater and Valerie Hannon, and thirty schools in South Australia. 

Michael currently leads the Learning Impact Mapping Project, an innovative approach to the evaluation and recognition of holistic learning.