Bath Spa University is introducing new courses in the area of creative technologies and enterprise. The aim of these new courses is to prepare students for a fast-changing world of digital creativity and innovation.
The University has recently appointed Professor Andrew Hugill as Director of Creative Computing to lead the development of courses in this area. Professor Hugill is a composer and writer and his research involves literature, music and computing.
He will be working with industrial and commercial partners to ensure the University’s developments in this area are integrated with the digital economy.
This new development includes the creation of a research cluster for creative computing which brings together Bath Spa’s expertise is a number of areas, such as computing, music and software engineering. Professor Hugill will lead this group at Bath Spa as well as supervising PhD students.
Commenting on the new course areas, he said: “The time is absolutely right for this new initiative, as the digital economy increasingly values creativity and innovation, while creative people are becoming increasingly technologically skilled. There is no doubt that an ability to flourish in a world of fast-changing technology will be essential for future success, both for individuals and the nation as a whole.”
The first course to be introduced is an Integrated Masters in Creative Technology and Enterprise. This course is taught over four years and students have frequent opportunities to work with commercial and industrial partners. It makes use of Bath Spa’s close links with the creative industries.
Endorsement for the course has come from Mark Perry, Chief Technology Officer, Hewlett Packard, UK Public Sector who said: “I believe this course provides an excellent foundation in all the required ‘digital professional’ areas in the context of the teaching, and the hands-on exposure, which the students will receive to real-world problems and projects.”
This is a new venture for Bath Spa and develops the University’s existing skills in creativity to meet the needs of the UK’s fastest growing sectors. It will provide talented graduates; new ideas and initiatives that will help boost UK growth in the longer term.
As well as the new Integrated Masters, other new courses will be developed at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Professor Hugill joined Bath Spa from De Montfort University where he was Professor of Digital Humanities. He is also an Associate Researcher at the Université de la Sorbonne, Paris, and a National Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
