Highlights from February 2015

Here are some of the highlights, from the Forum over February 2015:

The Guild Musical Theatre Group, and Student Alumni Networking

After discussions with GMTG’s student committee, they have agreed to create a newsletter, for both students and Alumni to use. This is the first step in an important process.

The reason why I am using Guild Musical Theatre Group (GMTG) as an example for student-Alumni networking, is because of its crucial networking potential. People cannot see the big picture yet, but they will do, as the students and Alumni begin to communicate.

Over the course of 30 years, graduates from the society have moved into key areas of the performing arts industry. Likewise, as I have said before, the students themselves have combined their raw talent and a lot of skill, to build the society into a kind of training school for the stage. So I am sure that, as business analysts would agree, if all of these people were brought together now, they would be able to build a very successful arts network.

Both the students and Alumni are all very talented and indeed, some of the Alumni are themselves, directors of important arts institutions. They are quite capable of organising a project of this scale. This is especially important for the performing arts, as I am assured, that the industry relies on the personal connections between its professionals. Creating a network like this one, would offer new connections, and – most importantly – would not only help students to find good careers: but would create new careers as well.

Having said that, I accept that it will take time. This process will take at least several years, before the students and Alumni on both sides, realise its full potential. The most important thing right now is to make a start. The students and Alumni need to contact one another, and share information. Besides the usual Facebook and other social media pages, a newsletter is a very good way to do this. This was suggested by GMTG Committee’s committee, and although I was sceptical at first, I now see that it has had a lot of support from the Alumni side, and is definitely the way forward.

This project has a lot of relevance to students at other universities, and colleges too. Ours can’t be the only well-established society, with the potential to network its members and Alumni. And I am sure that if successful, GMTG’s example will inspire other student societies to do the same with their Alumni. Of course, the main schools of study themselves, should be the first and most significant place, where the networking happens between the students and Alumni.

Work Experience for Students

As university careers officers have told me, work placements are still mostly optional for their students. Some degrees include them, others do not. Well I say that work placements and work experience for students in their chosen industry – even for a few weeks – should no longer be simply an option: but should form an integral part of their studies.

All students in the UK are now expected to pay a basic tuition fee of around £9,000 a year. That means they are now paying customers. And as I was taught in business, paying customers should expect the same level of service: whether the business is a college or university. All students should be entitled to work experience in their chosen industry. History students should be able to work with museum curators and archaeologists; psychology students with practising psychologists; sports science students with the sports and medical professionals. The list goes on, but the logic is the same.

Of course, the argument will be: why should full time professionals take time out of their important work, to train the students, and what about the costs involved? Well my counter argument is this: how much time and resources must medical professionals take out of their jobs, to teach their students? And yet, it has long been established, at my university and at others, for students of medicine, to be given work experience in the health professions. This must surely take a lot of time and money. But we do it all the same. So why can’t students of all other professions, have the same opportunities?

Qualified Assessment

The UK’s National Citizens Service (NCS) is my latest point of interest, in finding qualified assessment for non-graduates. NCS organisers have told me, that part of their programme involves awarding young people a certificate qualification for ‘Learning a New Skill’. I am wondering if this could be modified, to award young people with several new skills. After all, this kind of programme is aimed at 16-17 year olds, who are likely to be non-graduates.

I have also messaged Apprenticeships UK about this: as their schemes could perhaps be used to award certificates to some non-apprentices. There might even be a way to combine both programmes, and award at least some basic certificates to non-graduates.

I will wait to hear.

Job Creation/Business Start Ups

The Gorilla database is still the clearest way forward, and I will let Marcus set this up, on the relevant social media pages, to build awareness, before any major changes are made. The basic idea, is to put both the ideas and personal contacts for a new business, in one place; so if you or anyone you know, has ideas for a new business, then you are welcome to follow the links on the blog page, and send your ideas to the contact email. These will then be listed on +Google pages for the project.

Summary

These have been the main points on the Let's Build Bridges Forum for the month of February, and I will wait for the various people’s responses this month in March.