1 July 2008

million+ Report 'Creative Futures: building the creative economy through universities'

The university think-tank million+ has called for a new Arts, Humanities and Creative Industries Research Council (AHCIRC) to be set up as one of a series of measures to capitalise on ‘ever-changing’ creative industries and the potential of universities which have developed graduate qualifications and research for the creative economy.

A new report Creative Futures: building the creative economy through universities concludes that a new Research Council with representatives and entrepreneurs from the creative industries and universities would boost research and knowledge transfer as part of a wider strategy to promote the links between the UK’s creative industries, universities and the creative economy already being considered by the UK and Scottish Governments.

The million+ report is based on an extensive analysis of the relationship between the creative industries, universities and the funding regimes currently applied to higher education. The research concludes that ‘innovation-active’ universities which have formed relationships with and responded to developments in the creative industries have made a significant contribution to the success of a sector which employs over 2 million people in the UK, accounts for 7.3% of the economy and is the fastest growing new sector, comparable in size to the financial services.

Professor Les Ebdon, Chair of million+ and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire said “Creative universities and creative industries have delivered sustainable employment, encouraged entrepreneurship and have been key drivers in revitalising cities and regions. Government has raised the strategic importance of science and engineering and a similar strategy would boost the UK’s position as world leader in the creative economy and promote the graduate qualifications, research and knowledge transfer activities in universities that have been a cornerstone of this success. A new AHCIRC would send a powerful message that this strategy is centre-stage.

This needs to be matched by innovation in higher education teaching and research funding regimes to recognise interdisciplinarity of courses and the innovative blends of teaching and practice-based research, and state-of-the-art, industry-standard facilities that are crucial to delivering employability skills and the creative entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Creative Futures shows, without any shadow of doubt, that universities have added significant value to the creative economy adding cultural capital, including venues and facilities, of wider value to local communities.”

Creative Futures: building the creative economy through universities will be launched at a reception at the House of Commons on 1 July hosted by Ian Cawsey, Labour MP for Brigg and Goole and member of the IUSS Committee of the House of Commons. Ian Cawsey MP’s interest in the music industry is well known – as are his performances in MPs4theband. The Universities of Bedfordshire, Bath Spa, Buckinghamshire New, Coventry, Derby, Kingston, Napier, Sunderland and Teesside will be among those universities showcasing their work at the report launch.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Government Minister for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills and DIUS representative on the Government’s interdepartmental working group to progress Creative Britain will speak at the reception. Commenting on the report, Baroness Morgan said “The Government recognised the importance of universities to the creative economy in Creative Britain. I welcome this report as an important and interesting contribution to our work.”

Wes Streeting, President of the NUS said “The links between the creative industries and innovative universities have offered new opportunities in higher education and resonated with students. This report recognises that students in particular have understood the relevance of these industries and qualifications to the modern world. There is certainly a case to review funding models to ensure all universities have access to investment in research infrastructure and NUS will be looking at the need for more investment in professional masters awards relevant to the creative industries which this report identifies as a key factor in ensuring equality of opportunity and access to certain careers.”

The researchers from Napier University in Edinburgh, who were commissioned by Million+ to undertake the analysis, point out that UK universities were the first in the world to respond to demands for postgraduate courses in computer games technology but that diversification has taken place across a whole range of disciplines including more traditional subjects like music and often requires specialist, expensive equipment. The report also recommends that Government and universities develop an international strategy to promote the relevance and excellence of the UK’s creative industry courses and graduate qualifications to international students.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For further details and information contact million+ on 020 7717 1655 / 07795 645241

The 3 Tiers

1. An over-arching Government strategy to promote the creative industries and creative industry qualifications similar to that adopted for science and technology
2. Confirmation that universities have been in the forefront of developing diverse and robust graduate and postgraduate qualifications in response to and in partnership with the creative industries
3. The establishment of a new Arts, Humanities and Creative Industries Research Council with wider representation from the creative industries and universities to create a new a focus on research and knowledge transfer for the whole of the creative economy
4. The creative industries have been key drivers in revitalising cities and regions previously reliant on manufacturing: Universities have added creative capital to well established industries like glass and ceramics but also developed new creative industries in areas which have seen industrial decline
5. Business and administration and science and technology remain priorities for international students studying on courses offered by UK universities either in the UK or in their own countries. There is a major opportunity for Government to promote the UK’s position as a world leader in the creative industries and the excellence and relevance of the creative industry qualifications developed by the UK’s universities
6. In 2006, less than a quarter (23%) of all AHRC (Arts Humanities and Research Council) awards (329 out of almost 1500) were for professional masters. The introduction of a block grant partnership system will further dilute funding for postgraduate courses for the creative industries. An increase in the number of professional masters’ awards on a recurrent annual basis to ensure equality of opportunity, in particular in those creative industry areas which require a postgraduate qualification, should be considered.
7. Research funding allocations due in January 2009 which will determine investment for research infrastructure in universities up to 2013 should recognise the interdisciplinary and practice-based nature of creative industries research and provide for investment in research infrastructure in universities at the forefront of teaching and research in the creative industries to allow them to respond to changing needs and emerging markets