Tuesday October 22, Red Theatre, CUD: As a prelude to the launch of the Bachelor of Creative Industries (BACI) Programme currently awaiting approval from UAE Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, details of the Programme were announced at a presentation in the Red Theater to Faculty, Staff and current students.
In attendance from Ryerson University was James Nadler, Chair of Creative Industries, at Ryerson University’s Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Julia Finnegan, Chair of the proposed new Programme welcomed James to CUD. He expressed the hope that the Programme would hopefully be launched for the Spring Semester, Jan. 2018. He went on to outline the aims of the Programme which focuses on management and leadership in the Creative Industries. Managing creative people requires a specific skill set which needs to be learned through practical experience and being involved with those creative people.
There is a flexibility to move between all forms of Creative Industry. At Ryerson, over 40% of students have a firm job offer by the end of their third year of a four year programme. The Ryerson Programme is the first of its kind in Canada and James stated that the opportunity to bring it to the UAE had tremendous potential in view of the expected high demand for managers in creative industries with the current development of the creative sector in the UAE and the advent of Expo 2020.
Students entering the BACI in CUD will have the opportunity to transfer to Canada for their second and third year of study. They will then complete an intensive internship in the UAE during their final year to complete their degree.
Dr. Julia stressed the unique design of the Programme in that rather than receiving a Major degree there would be the opportunity to complete two minor concentrations. One of the extra dimensions to BACI is the creation of a Business Incubator in CUD allowing not only BACI students, but CUD students in general, to explore business opportunities for themselves with the support of Industry experts and dedicated mentors.
The presentation was concluded with some video clips about the BACI and the opportunities available in the UAE in the near future. This was followed by a Q&A session where clarification was provided on various aspects of the Programme.
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