Teesside leads global creative link-up

The University is at the heart of an international consortium looking to bridge the gap between education and the creative industries.

Funded by the European Union and the US Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), the two year Atlantis programme will see Teesside’s Institute of Digital Innovation (IDI) collaborate with colleagues in Sweden and the USA.

Dr James TerKeurst, Director of the IDI, said: ‘We’re bringing together partners from both sides of the Atlantic to research and improve key areas within education and training and ensure that students have the skills and attributes that the creative industries are looking for. The industry is changing rapidly, and so the roles within it.’

The IDI is leading the project and has a good track record in supporting the creation of graduate business through its DigitalCity Fellowship scheme, which has launched over 100 new companies. It benefits from using digital industry leaders as mentors for its aspiring entrepreneurs.

Teesside will be working with Gavle University in Sweden and The University of Iowa and University of South Carolina in the US on the two year €140,000 project.

Sharing best practice and establishing long term links Dr TerKeurst added: ‘The aim is to share best practice from Europe and the US for the delivery of education and training across a range of digital creative industries, such as journalism, animation and media production, and establish long term networks and links between education and industry.’

Bengt Ericsson, from Gavle University, Sweden said: 'Not only is a project such as this developing international relationships, but it is also providing a support structure that recognises the importance of digital creative industry skills and knowledge, and our ability to help each other.'

Dan Berkowitz, Associate Professor at University of Iowa, said: 'At a time when communication is rapidly becoming more global, our Atlantis project is an important step toward building a shared sense of purpose between the EU and the US. We look forward to a strong collaborative effort with our partners in England and Sweden.'

The findings from the Atlantis project will be delivered to the US Senate and the European Commission’s Culture and Education Directorate General to help to inform policy development in educational partnerships with the creative industries and make students more employable.

The first meeting of the partners takes place in Teesside in January 2011.

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