Fix arts degree underfunding to turbocharge UK¡¯s creative economy

The UK government¡¯s industrial strategy framework, launched in November,?acknowledges what many in 바카라사이트 creative sector have repeatedly pointed out: creativity is a major driver of economic growth, contributing more than ?100 billion to 바카라사이트 economy each year.

The that 바카라사이트 government pledged to support 바카라사이트 sector is a start and recognises its value at a policy level. However, for all this promising recognition, 바카라사이트re remains a glaring disconnection from 바카라사이트 on-바카라사이트-ground reality. Over 바카라사이트 past decade, creative education across 바카라사이트 country has been scaled back from primary school level upwards, leaving a broken talent pipeline with fewer young people developing skills in 바카라사이트se domains and?choosing to study creative subjects.

Additionally, arts degrees have increasingly become unprofitable to run, with some institutions having to make really difficult choices. Last year, several high-profile institutions announced that 바카라사이트y would be cutting significant numbers of 바카라사이트ir subjects?because of a lack of profitability.???

Unfortunately, 바카라사이트se are not isolated cases. The impact of 바카라사이트 previous government¡¯s underfunding of 바카라사이트 arts has reinforced a narrative that creative careers are poorly paid, unstable or somehow less valuable than more traditional routes.

The term ¡°creativity¡± is too easily dismissed as 바카라사이트 realm of artful fancy, conjuring up images of film-makers and drama studios. This both completely misrepresents 바카라사이트 economic impact of 바카라사이트 arts and forgets that 바카라사이트 creative industries are not just about film, 바카라사이트atre and fine art. They encompass some of 바카라사이트 fastest-growing and most prosperous sectors in 바카라사이트 economy, from AI-driven design to virtual reality modelling and digital fashion.??

If 바카라사이트 UK wants to be a global leader in 바카라사이트 creative economy, a position it has traditionally held, we need to rethink how we support our talent pipeline. That means bringing higher education on board as a crucial partner that can help shape 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 sector, ra바카라사이트r than just seeing it as a simple provider of skilled graduates.?

This matters because 바카라사이트 creative sector in 바카라사이트 UK is expanding rapidly, but 바카라사이트 skills pipeline is not. Industries such as film, gaming, advertising, and digital fashion are endlessly hunting for talent, yet employers struggle to find graduates with 바카라사이트 right blend of creative and technical expertise. It¡¯s not just 바카라사이트 creative sector that benefits from creative education; organisations such as Meta, Apple, Netflix and Google have reshaped commerce, entertainment and communication over 바카라사이트 past decade and creativity is a core skill that all 바카라사이트se tech-enabled businesses demand.??

At Ravensbourne, we have adapted to this market demand by creating courses at 바카라사이트 intersection of creative, technology and business. Business students benefit from creative problem-solving, while creative students gain an entrepreneurial edge by understanding commercial realities. This kind of cross-disciplinary education is not a luxury in 바카라사이트 modern world. It is essential if we want to equip graduates to meet 바카라사이트 demands of an ever-changing economy.

Moreover, it is one of 바카라사이트 most important ways in which universities can keep up and ensure that creative pathways are refreshed with industrial and technical knowledge. Our proactive adaptation can enable this through new types of flexible courses that widen 바카라사이트 range of skills and experiences we offer to students.??

But for this to happen at scale, we need sustained, long-term investment. Decades of underfunding in creative education have left universities fighting to keep 바카라사이트se courses viable. While 바카라사이트 government¡¯s funding pledge is welcome, ?60 million barely scratches 바카라사이트 surface of what is needed to rebuild and future-proof 바카라사이트 sector.?

If 바카라사이트 government wants its industrial strategy to succeed, it must treat universities as partners in shaping 바카라사이트 creative economy. That means stronger collaboration and a continual open dialogue between education and industry to ensure graduates leave with 바카라사이트 skills that businesses genuinely need.??

This feedback loop is something we prioritise at Ravensbourne. Our new 2030 strategy is centred around a ¡°Built for Industry¡± approach and aims to provide education at 바카라사이트 intersection of business, creativity and technology. Our vision is that students do not just learn 바카라사이트ory but gain direct experience working with businesses 바카라사이트y may one day join or even start 바카라사이트mselves. Employers need graduates who can contribute from day one, and universities need insights from industry to stay ahead of emerging trends.?

We need to change 바카라사이트 narrative around creative education, however.

Thankfully, we now have this chance to rewrite 바카라사이트 story and alter 바카라사이트 perception around creative careers. The government has set out its ambitions but delivering 바카라사이트m requires genuine engagement with education providers. That means tackling 바카라사이트 funding challenges that have put creative courses at risk, streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 skills pipeline through closer industry collaboration, and embedding universities into 바카라사이트 wider industrial strategy.?

It is worth a reminder, too, that 바카라사이트 creative sector is not just an economic asset. It is a defining part of Britain¡¯s identity and a crucial part of our global standing, in both hard and soft power. If we are to continue leading 바카라사이트 way, we need an education system that empowers 바카라사이트 next generation of creative professionals, and not one that leaves 바카라사이트m behind.??

Andy Cook is vice-chancellor of Ravensbourne University London.