Backstage Academy has launched three brand new postgraduate degrees for 2021, to bolster the skill-set of the sectors’ graduates entering the live events industry in a post COVID-19 world.
Located at the world-renowned Production Park in South Kirby, Yorkshire, the higher education institution has launched the degree programmes, which will start in January 2021, to reflect the changing needs within the live events and creative sectors.
With audience habits evolving, the Academy has seen a rising demand for graduates who can effectively move between different live events disciplines and demonstrate business acumen, in order to successfully navigate the post-COVID-19 landscape as the sector recovers.
The new postgraduate degrees include:
MA Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Live Events – offering the opportunity to develop leadership, financial, and strategic skills along with the business acumen necessary to be creative innovators and entrepreneurs within the live events and related industries.
MA in Live Event Design – offering the opportunity to cultivate the creative and collaborative skills required for emerging live event designers.
MSc Creative Technologies for Live Events – equipping students with the technical, academic and professional skills necessary to be creative innovators and technologists.
Head of Backstage Academy, Rachel Nicholson, commented: “The development of our new postgraduate degrees is an important milestone for the Academy, as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary next year. We’re really pleased to be able to offer graduates the opportunity to advance their training as live events professionals in the unique, purpose-built environment of Production Park.”
Nicholson added: “With the issues posed by COVID-19, the degrees present an ideal opportunity for people to retrain and reinforce their employability, whether as graduates, or for those later in their careers, in developing new skills and getting ahead of the competition. If people are finding it tough at the moment, the new degree options present an opportunity to get ahead of the competition. They will be able to retrain from January-December 2021 and enter back into the industry with new additional skills in Spring 2022, when we expect the industry to be well and truly back on track.”
Backstage Academy was recently accepted as a member into the Independent HE group, which recognises training and regulatory compliance, institutional practice, and the professional development of staff.
Welcoming students to the campus this month, Backstage was also recently credited by the QAA (Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) for its communication with students, providing FAQs, staff forums and blogs for mental health concerns. Students who remained in accommodation were also offered fortnightly one-to-one wellbeing checks from support staff.
Applicants looking to join the institution in October this year have been able to access virtual open days and participate in online chats with current students, academic and admissions staff.
Any current or prospective students who would like to hear more about the new degree programmes should visit www.backstage-academy.co.uk – call 01977 659880 or email enquiries@backstage-academy.co.uk
