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Creative industries at the forefront of thinking at Bucks New University
The School of Media, Production and Performance at Buckinghamshire New University is keen to build on the work it carries out with creative industries in the region
“There’s never been a more exciting time to be working in or training students to work in the creative industries,” says head of school Frazer Mackenzie who oversees a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in creative and visual communications; design and craft; music and event management; performance and dance; and media production.
Mackenzie says students are increasingly encouraged as part of their courses to work with businesses, forging links to help them gain employability skills. Now, Mackenzie wants to hear from firms looking to work with students.
Mackenzie continues: “Our art and design courses link up with our programmes focused on media production, which work with performance and dance, and in turn with music and event management, as well as media production – all under a creative industries banner. We feel we have a tremendous amount to offer.
“Business has never been better for the creative sector, with considerable international investment being ploughed in to UK-based companies which continue to lead the world in many of the areas the University specialises in.
“On first inspection, some companies may feel that our courses are not always applicable to their trade but creativity and creative thinking are widely regarded as key business differentiators for all kinds of companies.
“Creative products and services are also being used to drive business success, in the online and offline world, so we feel our students can contribute by collaborating with business.”
Mackenzie says a strong focus on the creative industries has always been at the heart of the University’s work. He adds: "Our recent ambitious building programme has been geared towards expanding what we offer.
“This programme includes our award- winning Gateway building, which houses
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – SEPTEMBER 2015
of Pewter Live 2015 at the Worshipful Company of Pewterers.
Mackenzie adds: “Our students continue to lead the way in our craft- based disciplines and the awards they receive are great recognition of their creativity and their future employability. One of the greatest challenges, both for our students and for the businesses we work with, is understanding that the creative industries are no longer limited to generating products for entertainment and leisure consumers.
Frazer Mackenzie
a state-of-the-art range of performance and production studios, specifically designed to meet industry standards, and address the increasingly diverse range of creative industry employment opportunities in a digital world.
“Our variety of music and events management programmes has also grown and developed since being introduced 20 years ago. The range of programmes we offer ensures that students can work with fellow students studying different subjects – developing their creative skills and building a strong grasp of how these various industries establish sustainable business models.”
Mackenzie points to recent success and recognition for Bucks New University creative students as proof of their abilities. This success included five awards for Bucks New University furniture students at the industry-leading New Designers exhibition in London, where two were shortlisted for its most prestigious prize of New Designer of the Year.
Elsewhere, success has included a host of awards for 3D contemporary crafts and products students in the student section
“The same creative thinking that informs the design, performance and production of leisure products can power the sales and distribution of all products and services. Companies such as Google, Nike, Coca Cola, and Apple are a testament to this. Many of our graduates are increasingly working for these kinds of businesses along with smaller SMEs and start-ups that recognise creativity as the key to national and international success.
“However, the nature of employment for creative industry graduates is also changing rapidly, with our students needing to demonstrate a good grasp of related disciplines, as well as their specialism. Bringing together all our creative industry-related subjects into one school at Bucks heralds a new opportunity to capitalise on where these disciplines cross over, with the chance to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for businesses looking for high-calibre graduate employees.
“Now we are keen to build on the fantastic range of firms we already work with to show how our students and graduates can make a lasting contribution to their future business success.”
For more information about opportunities to work with students at Bucks New University in the creative industries contact Frazer Mackenzie.
Details: Frazer Mackenzie 01494-522141
frazer.mackenzie@
bucks.ac.uk www.bucks.ac.uk
www.businessmag.co.uk
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