Graduate outcomes for creative students

Much has been said about the importance of STEM subjects and the need for graduates in these fields for the future employability market – but with technology and innovation set to be the industries of tomorrow, where does this leave the creative arts?

If you think innovation only comes from scientific breakthroughs then you’re mistaken, in fact it’s often actively striving for creativity that leads to truly ground breaking results. It’s this ability to drive innovation that employers value in students of the creative arts. And whilst students of other disciplines can often be at the mercy of social, cultural and technological shifts when it comes to long term career stability, creative students can be safe in the knowledge that their abilities to pave the way for innovation will stand them in good stead for the future – advancement will always be led by imagination, a progressive mind set and a passion for creativity. 

As noted by Gem Barton in his book Don’t Get a Job … Make a Job  “For some [creative graduates], being involved in forward-thinking design is their dream, for others being innovative is embedded so deep in to their genetics that everything they do becomes a new and exciting experience.” It is this passion that gives these creative arts students a great momentum that can be a powerful and valuable force for employers in all industries.

According to The Guardian, there were 160,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in “Creative Arts and Design” subjects in the UK in 2015, with more than 20,000 pursuing drama-based courses alone. As the report notes, this is more than the UK’s entire engineering student population, as well as the UK’s 2015 maths and computing cohort combined. This trend is also mirrored across many other societies worldwide.

“Graduates in the performing arts are actually high achievers in finding work outside their skill group, probably through enhanced confidence and articulacy,” adds Jenkins. “They take chances and do not regard money as everything. They seem better equipped to use their imagination and challenge conventional wisdom.”

Studies have shown that frequent involvement in the arts can greatly improve skills in maths, reading, confidence, communication, critical thinking and general cognitive processing. This type of learning has also been shown to aid motivation, concentration, confidence and teamwork; all of which are skills that are universally valued by the modern employer.

“You may not think the role you are applying for will require much imagination. However, that does not mean that you won’t need it to get the job,” writes Target Jobs.

“Employers like hiring creative employees because these are the people who come with ideas, both big and small, to develop the company.”

And if that’s not enough to put things into perspective, Deta Constantine, Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness at leading U.S. property information service, Real Matters, explains exactly how much creative individuals can benefit a business: “Organizations that understand the true value of professional development, culture, innovation and creativity also recognize the value of continuously educating their employee base.

“These organizations are the ones that will be better positioned to adapt to the rapidly changing demands of today’s work environment.”

The point we are trying to make is that there’s a whole wide world of employers out there who would literally kill for the skills and expertise your arts degree has given you. All you have to do is get out there and find them! Unleash your creativity! Make yourself truly irresistible with your unrelenting innovation…

Read on to learn about the top global arts schools offering outstanding graduate prospects…

LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS – SINGAPORE
LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore is a leading tertiary institution in cutting-edge contemporary arts and design education and practice. The college offers 31 diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in fine arts, design communication, interior design, product design, film, animation, fashion, dance, music, theatre, arts management, arts pedagogy and practice, art therapy, and Asian art histories.

Its faculty is led by a community of award-winning artists, designers, educators and researchers, and their practice-led research sets LASALLE apart as an international centre of excellence. Critically acclaimed alumni form the core of the cultural and creative sectors in Singapore and increasingly, internationally.

LASALLE College of the Arts celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2014, causing internationally acclaimed singer-actress Kit Chan to reminisce on her years as a student of one of Singapore’s most esteemed arts schools.

“The lecturers impressed me: I always felt they understood the industry and the practice of being a professional artiste. They weren’t just teaching from books”, she said.

 Those years of education at LASALLE, Kit added, “gave me a solid foundation to work from – be it technical skills and knowledge, professional attitude, or even the integrity required of a professional performer. It gave me clarity as I navigated the strange and chaotic world of the entertainment industry…I loved every single day of my first year as a drama student at LASALLE!”

CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF MUSIC – USA

The California College of Music (CCM) is the hottest new music school in Southern California. They fully believe in the raw talents of each new student, and they provide all the musical technique and performance skills necessary to succeed as a professional musician.

CCM is a contemporary popular music school, where students learn from a cutting-edge curriculum based in modern commercial music. They offer intensive hands-on instruction with ideal class sizes and frequent performance opportunities. CCM’s course offerings range from live ensembles and pop music history and music theory and ear training, you’ll gain experience in improvisation as well as in songwriting and studio recording.

The school’s focus is on personal attention and quality of instruction. Classes are taught by highly qualified faculty members who have already proven themselves within the American music industry. CCM’s impressive faculty members are the real deal – they have performed and recorded with artists including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, Steelheart, and Weezer. These are the same professional mentors you’ll be paired with at CCM, who will provide you with the industry connections and networking opportunities you need to establish yourself in the music business.

“After graduation, I immediately got a pro gig playing bass for a funk rock band called Atomic Walrus,” says CCM Associate Degree graduate, Marco Bohler.

“But I concentrate most on composing my own music, and I’ll be releasing my solo album in December,” adds Marco.

The enthusiastic CCM alumnus believes he would not have been able to achieve his dreams if it were not for this prestigious school, based in the world’s entertainment capital, just minutes from the Hollywood music scene.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your background is, if you want to become a musician, this school has everything that will make that possible. All you need is heart and hard work,” he concludes.

FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE – AUSTRALIA
The Faculty of Arts at the University of Adelaide is a diverse and innovative community, with over 135 years of teaching experience in the humanities and social sciences, as well as some of the best staff Australia has to offer.

Degrees offered by the Faculty are both interesting and challenging, giving all students the tools and knowledge to have a real and lasting impact on the world. The Faculty’s fundamental aim is to encourage graduates to think, research, and communicate more clearly and effectively than ever before, providing them with the intellectual skills and academic abilities to develop a rich and rewarding career.

Employers worldwide tell the Faculty of Arts that their graduates are incredibly high demand, and University of Adelaide alumni consistently reap the benefits of the University’s prestigious name.

“The degrees that I undertook at the University of Adelaide have opened more doors than I could have ever imagined. The reputation of the university alone has afforded my CV respect in both Australia and internationally” says Louise, a former Arts student of University of Adelaide. Upon graduating from university, Louise went on to attain a highly sought-after position at Ernst & Young, using skills she gained in pursuit of her degree on a daily basis.

VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL – CANADA
Vancouver Film School (VFS) functions like a major studio, with multiple production facilities that are essential for creating content for film, TV, games, animation, design, digital applications, and more. Content creation is the school’s core learning tool, placing its education in outstanding facilities with master instructors and mentors, and regularly updating and realigning the curriculum to be in lockstep with the most current industry standards.

From an education perspective, VFS is unassailable. Its one-year programs go deep and are immersive, efficient, and transformational. The school boasts an inspired education department – expert at curriculum design and preparing industry specialists to be effective instructors. In this, VFS stands alone.

FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND – NEW ZEALAND
The Faculty of Arts is the home of the humanities, social sciences and languages at the University of Auckland. The Faculty has been internationally recognised as New Zealand’s leading arts school by the 2015/16 QS World University Rankings, which placed it in the world’s top 40.

Arts students engage with some of the critical issues facing civilization, such as global security and the influence of the media. They learn to understand cultures, societies and ways of thinking that may be different from their own. No matter what you choose to study, you’ll find your time with the Faculty rewarding and inspiring.

Featured image courtesy of California College of Music