Program Overview
The MA/MSc Creative Industries Futures program equips graduates for careers in the creative industries, with an emphasis on personal and professional development through three key pillars: knowing-why, knowing-who, and knowing-how. Students collaborate, innovate, and apply their knowledge to develop a capstone project, preparing them for success through a focus on networking and community-building. The flexible blended learning program is designed to foster individual growth while offering opportunities for career connections and industry insight.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The MA/MSc Creative Industries Futures program aims to equip graduates with the skills for a sustainable career in the creative industries. It focuses on personal, professional, and academic development within a creative community. The program emphasizes three key areas:
- Knowing-Why: Students reflect on personal strengths and professional goals to define their purpose and positioning within their chosen field. This involves engaging in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities aligned with external frameworks like WWise (for gamers), LCM diplomas (for musicians), Leadership and Management, Creative Attributes by UAL, and Business and Marketing. The goal is to refine specialism and expand transferable skills for diverse and agile professional development.
- Knowing-Who: Students collaborate and network to build their creative community. This fosters long-lasting connections for career longevity and sustainability.
- Knowing-How: Students put innovative ideas into practice using design thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship, and research to develop a capstone project. Support is provided by a personal tutor, academic supervisor, and career mentor. The final project can take various forms, including a new catalogue of work, proof of concept, minimum viable product, or a disruption of existing practices. This demonstrates leadership and specialist knowledge across different working contexts.
Outline:
The full-time program structure is one year and consists of four modules:
- 701 Professional Practice Frameworks (Term 1 – 60 credits): This module involves undertaking a Professional Practice Framework relevant to personal and professional goals. Students work individually and in small groups with a Framework Mentor to evaluate skills in one of five areas: Creative Practice, Creative Enterprise, Higher Education Teaching, Workforce Development, or Community Arts and Health. Each framework has its own platform, methods, facilitator role, and requirements. The goal is to review and upskill applied skills, including technical, craft, creative competencies, leadership, project management, and interpersonal skills. Strategies and feedback are provided by guest speakers who have successfully implemented their ideas. Students deconstruct project management processes from concept to release, exploring project contexts from different collaborators' perspectives to effectively pitch to various audiences.
- 702 Creative Applied Research (Term 2 & 3 – 60 credits): This module involves an applied research project across two terms. The first term focuses on the research area, and the second on delivery and impact measurement. Research might be a proof of concept, minimum viable product, or an adaptation/challenge to existing practices. Students work collaboratively with local communities, industry, and/or academic networks. A supervisor is allocated based on research specialism, providing feedback and support. Students can choose between Arts-based or Science-based practice, leading to an MA or MSc degree, respectively.
- 704 Making Connections and Building a Community (Term 3 – 30 credits): This module focuses on networking with peers and industry contacts to develop opportunities within local communities, research organizations, potential investors, charities, and the creative industries. Students learn stakeholder management strategies, tools, and methods to communicate and engage with different stakeholder groups. A portfolio of evidence tracks decision-making processes, activities, responses, ethical considerations, influence, and impact. The goal is to build a community of interest (investors, partners, customers, audiences) to develop a forward strategy for the applied research project.
Teaching:
The program utilizes a blended learning approach, offering both on-campus and remote learning options. Students receive support from a personal tutor, an academic supervisor, and a career mentor. The program incorporates guest speakers who provide feedback and guidance on project development and pitching. The program also emphasizes collaborative learning through group work and networking opportunities.
Careers:
The program aims to prepare students for sustainable careers in the creative industries. Student testimonials highlight successful outcomes, including employment in software engineering (one student secured a position at Roke after graduating), and the development of entrepreneurial ventures (one student toured schools with a project developed during the program). The program's focus on networking and stakeholder management is intended to facilitate career opportunities and long-term career sustainability.
Other:
The program offers flexibility in educational engagement, accepting a combination of formal qualifications and experiential learning. The program is offered at ACM campuses in Guildford, Birmingham, and London, as well as remotely. A two-year accelerated undergraduate program and a three-year Masters program are also mentioned as options available at ACM.
