Build your own creative media MA with BU

9 June 2010

BU has linked with Skillset to offer media professionals the opportunity to build their own career-oriented MA.

Media professionals can now ‘create’ their own Master of Arts by combining a flexible selection of professional development modules offered through the UK’s network of Media Academies.

Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media Industries, has developed the Build Your Own MA programme in partnership with ten Skillset Media Academies in England, including Bournemouth. The Bournemouth Academy is the result of a successful partnership between BU and the Arts University College at Bournemouth.

The Build Your Own MA programme will offer more than 75 industry-approved professional development modules as part of a three-year project funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

Those taking part can complete their own selection of professional development modules in any combination, and from any mixture of Academies. At the same time, students can accrue credits towards a postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or MA in Professional Media Practice. It is the first time an educational model of this type has been offered in the UK.

The programme comes in response to calls from government and industry to better align postgraduate education with the sector’s strategic development needs. The scheme will also allow companies to create bespoke professional development programmes in consultation with Higher Education institutions that will carry credits towards a postgraduate qualification.

The BBC Academy and The Guardian Media Academy have formed partnerships with BU through the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice to deliver Build Your Own MA modules.

The BBC has developed a programme for its Production Managers which began this month. Anne Morrison, Director of the BBC Academy said: "We are delighted to be working with both Skillset and Bournemouth University as we launch the inaugural year of this unique programme. Not only will it provide those taking part with a unique opportunity to consolidate and build upon their existing knowledge but it will help to set and drive standards across our industry.”

The Guardian is also working with Bournemouth to provide three approved courses to the general public through their own Media Academy.

Steve Busfield, Head of Media and Technology, Guardian News & Media, said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with the Skillset-approved Media School at Bournemouth University to offer vital training to media professionals. The first joint course is on ‘Editorial Leadership’ and includes an exclusive Q&A session with editorial staff from the Guardian, as well as lectures delivered by other media professionals and academics.”

Jon Wardle, Director for the CEMP said: “Bournemouth is very excited about the Build Your Own MA initiative. The creative industries are a graduate sector and with increasing numbers of people unable to fund full-time study, flexibly delivered short courses provide a good solution. These courses delivered in conjunction with industry partners are at the current edge of academic and professional thinking.”

Skillset’s Media Academies are a UK-wide network of higher education institutions that have undergone rigorous assessment by professionals from within the creative media industries. They are centres of excellence that offer practical, industry-focused training to their students in order to best prepare them for entry into the workforce.

A database of all of the eligible courses, as well as more information about how to Build Your Own MA, is now available at skillset.org/build.