University News Last updated 05 October 2010
The Minister for the Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey, took time out from the Conservative Party Conference yesterday to learn about the exciting partnerships between education and industry being forged at the Birmingham City University Skillset Media Academy.
Ed Vaizey met with Skillset’s chief executive Dinah Caine, deputy chief executive Kate O’Connor, as well as staff and students from the university and several senior media professionals, including the BBC’s Anne Morrison.
Mr Vaizey took a tour of the university’s state-of-the-art media facilities, and was interviewed by a Birmingham City journalism student in the campus’ working television studio.
Skillset’s chief executive, Dinah Caine, said: "We are very pleased that the Minister has been able to find time in his busy schedule to come and witness the wonderful work that is being done here at the Academy. The Birmingham City University Skillset Media Academy is a shining example of what can be achieved through effective partnerships between education and industry."
Dr Peter Rayson, Associate Dean, Faculty of Technology, Engineering and Environment said: “It was a great opportunity for Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment to showcase some of its facilities and teaching to the Minister.
“Technology is often at the heart of the creative industries and it is the combination of science and the creative output that makes Birmingham City University outstanding and why it has Skillset Academy status.”
The Birmingham City University Skillset Media Academy is part of a national footprint of colleges and universities that work with industry in developing the new wave of media talent. These Academies are active components of the talent pipeline that develops creative media skills from undergraduate education right through to continuing professional development (CPD).
The Birmingham Academy is one of the original partners in Skillset’s England-wide Build Your Own MA programme, which delivers industry-approved CPD that bears credits towards a post-graduate qualification. It is also developing a work-based Foundation Degree as part of the Skillset Media Academy Foundation Degree Internship initiative, and is fully involved in a range of Knowledge Transfer Projects, working with media companies to research and develop innovative solutions to current business issues.
Skillset’s network of 23 Academies draws together creative education partnerships from colleges and universities across the UK. The institutions in the Skillset Media Academy Network are all centres of excellence in television and interactive media, and all bear the Skillset Tick.
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