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HKU SPACE to join hands with University of the Arts London to nurture talents for the creative industries

Date
14 Sep 2015 (Mon)
Press ReleaseAnnouncement

HKU SPACE Centre for Degree Programmes (CDP) announces its partnership with University of the Arts London (UAL) in launching two new Master’s programmes in Hong Kong, being the first awards of their kind on offer from the UAL at the Master’s degree level in Asia.
 
The two programmes, namely MA Arts and Cultural Enterprise, in collaboration with Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design (CSM), and MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice, in collaboration with London College of Communication (LCC), will commence in January and February 2016 respectively. Application is now open. 
 
Ken Wong, Head of CDP explained, “We have been running annual executive series with Central Saint Martins since 2011, and have seen the increasing market demand for talents in the field of arts, creative and cultural management. Hong Kong is not only an international financial centre with well-established tax and legal systems, but also a focal point where East meets West and where we enjoy free flow of ideas. These combine to provide UAL with a solid foundation for the launch of its first MA programmes in Asia.”
 
The MA Arts and Cultural Enterprise programme acknowledges the need for multi-skilled professionals, executives and entrepreneurs in the arts, cultural and creative sector. “While arts and cultural activities flourish in established economies in New York and London; arts and culture has become an economic pillar in the Asian region such as in Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. We believe that art and culture and economic development are supplementary to each other,” Ken elaborated. 
 
Moving away from practice or artifact, this two-year programme embeds employability and enterprise so as to train talents who can both generate the ideas for original arts and cultural events, and provide leadership for the teams that realise them. It covers topics of interaction between creative activities and the private/public sectors, local and global challenges, arts entrepreneurship, business models and finance for arts and creative industries, as well as social engagement. The programme enables responses to new forms of creative practice and changing global conditions.  
 
The programme considers candidates with a certain amount of relevant work experience. CSM Course Leader Charlotte Bonham-Carter explained, “If you are currently in the arts administration role, and look for a progression onto the next level, you will find the programme beneficial. If you come from other fields such as banking, investment, architecture, or design, but wish to establish your start-up in the arts and creative industries, you can also acquire the necessary skillset through this programme. The two programmes are taught simultaneously in Hong Kong and in London, students will be able to exchange ideas on local and international cases via online discussion groups or forums.”
 
The MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice is a 16-month programme that introduces students to contemporary media and communications alongside the cultural and creative industries. LCC Course Leader Steve Cross said, “The programme will produce talents who can manipulate both the opportunities and challenges brought by new multi-platform and digitalised media environment under globalisation. It is particularly suitable for marketing and branding professionals and entrepreneurs, and can help individuals from other industries to convert into the related profession in media and communications in today’s digital economy.”
 
Students of the MA programmes will attend classes in several intensive weekends (such as Friday, Saturday and Sunday) led by flying-in faculty from CSM or LCC over the entire course of study. Followed by the face-to-face teaching by CSM or LCC faculty members in each module, the learning experience will be followed by tutorials, guest talks, workshops, group discussions or site visits. A couple of online learning components are included for the MA Arts and Cultural Enterprise programme as well. Even busy working professionals will be able to accommodate the teaching arrangement comfortably. “Apart from the ‘global’ experience put together by local and CSM/LCC faculty members, we will engage local industry practitioners in guest lectures to discuss and debate around local arts, creative and media industries,” added Head of CDP Ken Wong. 
 
On completion of the two MA programmes, students will be awarded the Master of Arts degree by University of the Arts London. Graduates enjoy the same status as students completing the programmes at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design or London College of Communication campus. Graduates of Postgraduate Diploma in Media and Cultural Critique, or equivalent, awarded within the HKU system through HKU SPACE are eligible to apply for credit exemption for enrolment into the MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice. 
 
MA Arts and Cultural Enterprise
 
MA Media, Communications and Critical Practice
 
Programme Enquiry: 
Tel: 2910 7645/ 2910 7626
 
HKU SPACE Centre for Degree Programmes 
With the motto ‘Education with a Global Vision’, HKU SPACE Centre for Degree Programmes (CDP) was established in 2003 to offer full-time degree programmes for young adults. In the 2015/16 academic year, CDP offers more than 30 full-time programmes in collaboration with overseas universities. As the demand for postgraduate qualifications has been on the rise, CDP introduced postgraduate diploma, taught master’s degree as well as CSM executive series back in 2011. Over five years of development, CDP has been running annual executive series with top-notch lecturers from CSM. CDP’s latest developments include its unprecedented collaboration with CSM and Art Basel on executive education in 2015, and the launch of two master’s programmes with Central Saint Martins and London College of Communication in 2016. 
 
University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London (UAL) brings together, in a single federated structure, six of the most famous art and design colleges in the world, including the Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design (CSM) and London College of Communication (LCC). With 150 years of history, CSM’s notable alumni include artists Antony Gormley, Gilbert & George, Lucian Freud, as well as the world’s celebrated designers such as Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney. 
 
Media Enquiry:
Ms. Emily Chu, Assistant Manager (Media Relations), HKU SPACE
Tel.: 2975 5854                      
 
Ms. Vicki Wan, Media Relations Coordinator, HKU SPACE
Tel.: 2910 7689