News and Events

Secretary of State praises Bournemouth Screen Academy

25 September 2007

UK’s Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, and BU Vice Chancellor Paul Curran

The Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills has praised the success of the Bournemouth Screen Academy.

John Denham, the UK’s Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has underlined the significant contribution made by the Bournemouth Screen Academy (BSA) to the global film industry.

The Bournemouth Screen Academy is a £5M joint collaboration between BU and the Arts Institute at Bournemouth (AIB).

Funded by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries, the Screen Academy network is endorsed by the UK film industry as providing the best education and skills development for the future workforce at a further, higher and postgraduate level.

During a visit to Screen Academy facilities at BU and the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, Mr Denham commented on how quickly and effectively the BSA had established "an outstanding record in producing highly skilled, industry-ready professionals for a creative and technically demanding industry worth £4.3 billion to the UK economy last year".

"The network of Skillset Screen Academies plays a crucial role in giving the UK the edge when it comes to developing the most talented and skilled workforce in the world, both now and in the future," Mr Denham concluded.

Welcomed by Professor Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, and Professor Stuart Bartholomew, Principal of the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, Mr Denham toured film production facilities on the campuses of both institutions and met staff and students.

Joining the tour were Stephen Jukes, Dean of the Media School at BU, David Hanson, Director of Bournemouth Screen Academy and Dinah Caine and Kate O’Conner of Skillset.

"The Secretary of State’s visit highlights the great progress made by institutions like BU whose strategy is to develop the most talented and skilled graduates," said Professor Curran.

"The BSA is the only Skillset centre of excellence in the South of England in all areas of film-making and its success marks the continued commitment that both BU and the Arts Institute have made to film and to educating students for the film industry".

The development of the BSA has strengthened the partnership between BU and the AIB - two of the most highly regarded media education institutions in the UK. The BSA aims to make a fundamental difference in the South West of England and beyond, in educating for careers in the UK film industry.

It has, to date, set up a number of successful film education and training initiatives including summer schools, mentoring schemes for students, graduates and staff, curriculum development and bursaries to assist young people in higher education.

Stephen Jukes said: "The Bournemouth Screen Academy is a flagship in the Skillset Academy Network and Bournemouth is now firmly established as one of the leading centres in England for education and training for the screen-based industries".