Associate Degree in Creative Industries

The Associate Degree in Creative Industries is designed as an award for people with a high level of expertise and technical skill in their creative profession who seek a higher education qualification to support their career development in the areas of Creative Industries management, entrepreneurship and innovation; towards a related more senior role; or as a pathway to a higher-level university qualification. The seven foci of the Associate Degree in Creative Industries include:

• Interactive and Digital Design
• Music and Performing Arts
• Film, Television and Radio
• Writing and Publishing
• Advertising and Marketing
• Media and Communication
• Visual Arts

The two year, nationally recognised Associate Degree in Creative Industries has been developed by UWSCollege, in association with the University of Western Sydney, to give creative entrepreneurs and artists the essential business skills and knowledge to establish full time careers or take on more senior management roles.

Dr Kerry Hudson, CEO of UWSCollege and Director, Education Partnerships at UWS, says the Associate Degree in Creative Industries has been built with both artist and industry in mind.

"There are many business courses available but none are tailored for the Australian creative industry. So, we went directly to leading creative industry organisations and professionals in Sydney and beyond to ask them what skills they valued and what they believed was essential for success," says Dr Hudson.

"The Associate Degree in Creative Industries provides tuition which is directly relevant to students' working lives providing them with strong management, project planning accounting and business skills.

Ms Peta Downes, Executive Coordinator for the Associate Degree in Creative Industries says the undergraduate program - taking its first cohort of students in 2012 - is unique in New South Wales.

"The program, which is only offered to 30 students each year, is designed to hone students' business and entrepreneurial skills in a collaborative environment akin to the small to medium enterprises that are the backbone of Australia's creative industries," says Ms Downes.

"It's a unique opportunity for the students to practice their newly acquired entrepreneurial skills in the supportive environment of our creative industry partners but also to experience the pressures and challenges of delivering an engaging project on time and on budget," says Ms Downes.

To find out more, visit the Associate Degrees in Creative Industries page now. (opens in a new window)

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