Tech column: industry accreditation for HE courses

Many years have passed since the industry traineeship model provided the traditional pathways into the music industry. Positions such as tape op and runner are now a distant memory and higher education courses have taken their place. The educational models used over recent decades have tended to focus on the technology rather than the social, aesthetic and human skills that the traineeship model promoted. Generally, when a permanent position does arise, employers look to a university graduate to fill the position.

Evidence suggests that some higher-education providers are not furnishing students with the kind of skills and specialisms that the creative industries demand – this is evidenced by the varied employment outcomes across the media industry sector.