How to better meet the needs of employers and the career aspirations of studentsis a key challenge that higher education institutions are facing. This symposium will explore the key skills, knowledge and attributes that students will need to develop in order to become employable in the international creative economy, and how university could collaborate with industry to create a talent pipeline to address the challenge.
This event is part of a research project - funded by Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), led by Professor Ming Cheng of Edge Hill University and supported by public and private sector partners from the UK and China - to foster educational enterprise collaborations between Shanghai and Liverpool. It will provide a rare opportunity for students, academics, employers, entrepreneurs, creative practitioners and policymakers to network and to share their ideas, insights and experiences. Refreshments, lunch and wine is available.
Registration: Click here to register your space – this is a FREE event, open to the public (registration is essential)
For any queries regarding this event, please email ICE@edgehill.ac.uk
Symposium Speakers:
Jo Wright, Developing Creative Talent: Reflections from Shanghai
Jo Wright is the Director of Wright Consulting (UK) Ltd. He is a member of the Creative Industries Federation UK Council, associate of Counterculture LLP, chair of Sound City Liverpool and ambassador for Club Liverpool.
Six delegates representing Edge Hill University and Liverpool City Region visited Shanghai in April 2019, meeting key stakeholders in the education, creative industry and cultural sectors to explore approaches to creative talent development. This presentation will share memories, images, insights and learnings as well as ideas and opportunities for further exchange, exploration and collaboration. Based on Jo’s years’ experiences of working at creative industries, Jo will offer strategic thinking and suggestions on how to create a talent pipeline between university and the creative sectors in the UK.
Liam Kelly, Graduate Skills and Attributes for Employability: Perspectives and Expectations of Creative Industry Employers
Liam Kelly is the CEO of the social enterprise Make CIC & Chairperson for the Baltic Triangle Area, Liverpool’s creative, digital and visitor hot spot.
In a world of AI and automation, with the pace of change accelerating, what skills and attribute should an employer look for in future employees? What jobs and roles should people look for themselves? The creative industries are outperforming the UK economy and have been central to the economic renaissance of cities like Liverpool, but the answer for “what next” might also be found in behind us. Sharing insight from running Make CIC and supporting business growth in The Baltic Triangle.
Ruokun Chen, Developing Global Creative Talents: An Approach of Systematic Learning
Ruokun Chen is the Founder of Digital FUN in Shanghai and the president of Touch Designer Community, one of the biggest technology communities in China. His studio has taken part in multiple big-scale projects, including Honda, Volkswagon and Audi Launches, and Lululemon exhibitions.
Mr Chen, the founder of Digital Fun in China will share his experiences and understandings of creative talents and how to develop that in the field of digital creative industries through an approach of systematic learning. He points out that the concept of creative talents is subjective, as it means different things to different people, and it can be influenced by culture, the market, and technology development. It is important to develop students to become global creative talents through the approach of systematic learning. This is because the digital creative industry is multidisciplinary as it involves a wide range of skills and interdisciplinary perspectives, such as digital design, software usage, hardware development and creative thinking. Students will need the opportunities to receive comprehensive training, get work-related experiences, and develop interdisciplinary discussion and practices.
Professor Martin McQuillan,Working with partners to deliver a pipeline for the creative economy in Liverpool
Martin McQuillan is the Director of the Institute for Creative Enterprise and he is a Professor of the Philosophy of Literature and Media at Edge Hill University.
This talk will discuss the ways in which Edge Hill University’s Institute for Creative Enterprise is working with cultural organisations and partners in the Liverpool city region and north west of England to encourage creative careers and critical audiences. It will also discuss the ways in which that work could be opened out to a Chinese and South East Asia context.
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