SRC Project Digital Creative Strand Nicola Critchlow November

SRC Project Digital Creative Strand • Nicola Critchlow • November 2009

Digital Creative Strand • My background and previous research • Methodology for SRC - digital creative industries • Initial findings • Next steps www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

HECSU Research – Bridging the Gap Digital industries, Bridging the Gap. How to align employers needs with graduate skills and higher education courses. • Views of academics and employers • Employers from IT, films and TV, games, web development and design, digital marketing, multimedia and education • Academics from creative, technical and business related courses www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Summary from HECSU research • Value of communication skills – 92% of Academics and 83% of Employers thought communication skills are very important How well do you feel University courses prepare graduates in regards to communication skills? www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Summary from HECSU research • Understanding of the latest technologies – All Academics and Employers view this as important, although more Employers rate it as very important. How well do you feel University courses prepare graduates in understanding the latest technologies? www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Summary from HECSU research • Need for work experience – 91% of Academic and 83% of Employers viewed exposure to work experience as important or very important. How well do you feel University courses prepare graduates to exposure to work experience? www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

What are digital industries? • Growth sector but what is it? • Skillset subdivides it into 10 areas • Digital is now the dominant form of media creation www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Quotes Finding creative solutions to a clients needs by pushing technology as far as we can - Employer Anything that uses technology to move the business forward. Anything that uses new technology to find new audiences’. - Trade Organisation www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Methodology • Find out the competencies required for different job roles • Competency model incorporates: Cognitive competence – intellectual ability Behavioural competency – manual dexterity Affective competency – people’s attitudes and values www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Initial findings • Employers are looking for competencies from all areas Social Media Executive Cognitive Behavioural Affective Competency www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Initial findings • Employers are looking for competencies from all areas • Emphasis on enthusiasm and passion for the industry • Responsibility on the student as well as employers and academics • Rapidly changing industry • Need for range of skills which might traditionally be taught in different faculties www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Next steps • Initiatives such as the Pro. Dev Day • Develop set of core competencies for distinctive job roles within the `digital agency’ • Mapping the competencies onto current provision within MMU • Current courses adapted and/or new courses introduced • Graduates be able to inform employers about what they can do and have the potential to do www. mmu. ac. uk/careers

Thank you Any Questions? www. mmu. ac. uk/careers