Case study
Partnerships:
Up the junction
The Diploma of_f ers its students the chance to work with local employers. So
what is it like for teachers, students and employers to collaborate in this way?
We meet those involved in a Creative and Media project in Cambridge
T_h e employer students to set and meet project milestones, in Mr Bates explained. “T_h ey will get a day
Simon Bates is head of learning and access the manner that they would be expected to in in Bournemouth’s media suite, and will
at T_h e Junction in Cambridge, one of the a professional situation. T_h is gives them a sense be mentored by fi ve of the university’s
country’s busiest cultural venues, which off ers a of how quality assurance and project delivery undergraduates during their stay.
wide programme of music and cultural events, need to work in business.” “As well as a golden opportunity to use
and is also a delivery partner for the Diploma Mr Bates is in no doubt about the benefi t some of the best facilities in the industry, this
in Creative and Media in Cambridge. this business-like approach has had on the link-up with Bournemouth University will
As part of their course, local Diploma students, and he has noticed a change in the give our students a real feel for university life
students are regularly involved in event way they approach the projects they are set. and encourage them to consider their route
programming, production and marketing at “T_h e group are now much better at into higher education.”
the venue – something that Mr Bates sees as focusing on the product that we, the business,
crucial preparation for employment in creative want. T_h ey are starting to show a sense of T_h e educator
industries. creative control – initially they would get Dr Nick Potamitis is the course team leader
“Diploma students who come to T_h e caught up in their own big ideas, without for the Diploma in Creative and Media
Junction work alongside a range of experts thinking so much about the requirements at Long Road Sixth Form College. He
including technicians, marketing specialists, set out in the brief. Now they are thinking in met Mr Bates at a Diploma conference in
and nationally renowned event programmers,” a more practical way, asking intelligent and Cambridge in 2009, and following an initial
he explained. “We believe this experience will mature questions and coming up with some discussion at the conference about working
help inspire students to develop the ambition strong and workable creative solutions. together, T_h e Junction and Long Road are
and skills that are crucial to the creative “T_h e beauty of Diplomas is that we are now collaborating on a number of units and
industries. able to work with schools and colleges to help projects within the Diploma in Creative and
“Over the last couple of months, we’ve been communicate what skills young people need Media course.
working on an interesting two-part project to succeed in the creative sector. T_h at doesn’t Dr Potamitis describes how the current
with Long Road Sixth Form College’s Level only help the students think about their video project for Level 3 students is going.
3 Creative and Media Diploma students. futures, it also helps ensure that T_h e Junction “Our students have responded really
T_h e class was split into two groups – one remains a cutting edge cultural venue.” positively to the project with T_h e Junction,
half of the group was given a brief to develop T_h e Junction received funding for and I think much of their enjoyment stems
a promotional video to inform local bands production of the employer engagement from the feeling that they are being treated as
about T_h e Fiver – a monthly showcase at T_h e documentary from Skillset, the Sector Skills professionals rather than students. T_h ey are
Junction for up and coming groups playing Council for Creative and Media, as part of a motivated by working with a client on a ‘live’
anything from indie to punk. T_h e other half wider project to inform students about the brief, as well as the challenge of producing
of the group has been briefed to create a diff erent progression routes into work and a video knowing that, if successful, their
documentary about the work-related learning higher education off ered by the Diploma. product will be used commercially.
aspect of their Diploma course, using the As well as funding for the project, Skillset “One of the most important skills the
experiences of their fellow classmates working has also matched T_h e Junction and Long students are developing as part of this project
on T_h e Fiver promotional video as a basis.” Road Sixth Form College with the University is an understanding of the importance of
Both groups were given a professional of Bournemouth, a member of the Skillset working to deadlines. T_h ey are expected to
brief for their video projects, so they felt as Media Academy Network – a national deliver a high standard of work to the agreed
though they were receiving a real brief from association of colleges and universities that milestones, and their weekly meetings with
an employer. work to help develop new media talent. Simon have helped them to understand how
Mr Bates goes down to the college each “T_h e entire group of Diploma in important this is in a professional partnership.
week for a “quality control” meeting with the Creative and Media students at Long Road “T_h ey are also learning how the creative
students, as he would do on “any other business has been granted access to state-of-the- decisions that they make don’t just impact
project”. He continued: “We expect the art facilities at Bournemouth University,” their own success, but also the success of their
34 Delivering Diplomas • Volume 2 No 1 Spring 2010
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