Goldsmiths - University of London

They have established the Skillset Media Academies in response to the television and interactive media industries desire to develop lasting partnerships with further and higher education institutions. The Academy network provides an answer to industry need for fresh talent and innovation and sets new standards in higher education for the design and delivery of practice-based courses.

The network is made up of 17 Academies, drawing together creative education partnerships from 43 colleges and universities across the UK.

The institutions in the network are already, in Skillset’s words, ‘centres of excellence in television and interactive media’. The Goldsmiths Academy aims to be a bridge to industry for bright new talent, nurturing a 'critical practice', which addresses the need for a broad range of skills and innovation.

The academy centres around 12 taught MA programmes. Graduates gain strong conceptual, critical and creative skills alongside a broad range of transferable practical skills. By teaching in a way which is both intellectually challenging and vocationally appropriate, Goldsmiths aims to produce graduates who are daring, employable, innovative and skilled.

At Goldsmiths, 'critical practice' is all about the freedom to experiment, to think differently, to be individual. We try to bring creative and unconventional approaches to all of the MAs which form the centre of this Media Academy: a diverse postgraduate media programme embedded in a rich, high-rated University research environment.

See also Media & Communications or Skillset Media Academies.

More about the Media Academy Network

The first of its kind, the Skillset Media Academy Network is a national footprint of colleges and universities to work with industry in developing a new wave of talent to create the 'Facebook', 'You Tube' and 'Bebo' style concepts and media content of the future.

The Skillset Media Academy Network was launched in London by Culture Minister James Purnell and Skills Minister David Lammy, and leading figures from academia and the media.

The network has been devised by Skillset - the UK Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The Network is made up of 17 Academies, drawing together creative education partnerships from 43 colleges and universities across the UK.

The institutions in the network are already centres of excellence in television production and interactive media.

This is the first attempt anywhere in the world to 'hardwire' collaborative partnerships between the media industries and academia into the fabric of national education infrastructure.

The network will see world-leading academics, content creators, computer games developers, software programmers and creative artists working with industry to develop talent, creativity and business ideas to exploit new technologies and opportunities in broadcast television and interactive media.

The industry engagement will be high-level.

Sir Christopher Frayling, Chairman of the Arts Council of England, head of the Royal College of Art and noted commentator on culture and media, said:

"The creation of the Skillset Media Academy Network is a big step forward for Higher Education in the UK. With the new technologies in media and communications, we now find ourselves in a world that doesn't have borders and boundaries, a place of online social networks where people 'put their lives online' and increasingly use interactive media applications to navigate their way through everyday living. The space of places is making way for the space of flows."

"Pioneers and innovators, in this digital and interactive world, will play a key role – creative men and women from wide and varied backgrounds with the skills, information and knowledge to harness existing and create new media technologies for the benefit of all of us. It is absolutely fundamental that we lay down the educational infrastructure bringing together our finest minds, entrepreneurial flair and the best technical know-how. It's a question of convergence. The Skillset Media Academy Network represents a new approach for a new digital age."

Greg Dyke, former Director General of the BBC, Skillset patron and chair of the Media Academy approvals panel, said:

"We live in a very competitive world where one good idea can see a person move from mum's garage to global media magnate virtually overnight. The problem for the UK, though, is that a lot of people all over the world are having good ideas in television and interactive media! Good ideas are simply not enough – they have to be world-beating! This is where education and industry collaboration can play a crucial role."

"Media organisations are all about ideas and doing the unthinkable - going left when the herd veers right. You're looking for people who do things very differently. You go into a college or university in the Skillset Media Academy Network and you find people who are working with industry and doing remarkable things that aren't predictable, and that's what you're looking for all the time."

"We are talking about the next wave of talent, the people who are going to come up with the next 'Facebook' or 'You Tube' and brilliant interactive entertainment concepts. It makes absolute sense for media companies to have partnerships and collaborations with the best academics and the best talent in a network that has benchmarked standards of excellence."

James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said:

"The collaboration between Skillset, Industry and Higher and Further Education must be applauded for its strategic thinking, insight and commitment in establishing the Skillset Media Academy Network. The partnership will guarantee a continuous flow of talent, creativity and business ideas to fully exploit the opportunities of the digital age."

David Lammy MP, Minister for Skills, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, said:

"The Skillset Media Academy Network is the realisation of a new tradition of partnership between Industry and Higher Education. I applaud the initiative taken by Skillset in building the key relationships that are needed to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of global competitiveness."

Dinah Caine, CEO of Skillset, said:

"We live in a digital age where people can access information, ideas and entertainment wherever they want and whenever they want. It is a time of I-pods, Bebo, Facebook You Tube and broadcast television online. People can download movies and music to mobile phones, enjoy the best of British television on the Internet, and even share their own video clips with an audience of millions through social network sites."

"We are experiencing unprecedented change in our television and interactive media industries. And where there is change, there is always opportunity. We can proudly say that the UK is taking a leading role in how this digital future is taking shape. But we have to get better at what we do, and the way we do it to stay ahead of a very competitive international field."

Kate O'Connor, Skillset Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Policy & Development, said:

"In this new world, the UK is up against fierce international competition. The focus can no longer be about 'Education', on the one hand, and 'Industry-led demand for Skills' on the other - the infrastructure for a more holistic approach is needed and the Skillset Academy Network model is delivering that vision."

"The Skillset Media Academy Network is providing the blueprint for how industry and education can work together, harnessing collective resources and knowledge into a tangible network to unleash a powerful new force in creative education in the UK."