Kingston University London

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All the courses are structured in three phases (each of 60 credits). The first phase introduces you to our Creative Economy in a very practical sense, as you work with other students to develop your own creative enterprise project. The second phase allows you to focus in more detail on your chosen creative industry specialism. The final phase is where you synthesise your learning from the whole course. The specific content of your chosen course will be detailed in your own course learning agreement.

Phase 1: The Creative Economy – in Practice

Students will take four core learning goals (each worth 15 credits).

Design Thinking and Entrepreneurship in Practice:

You will gain ‘hands on’ experience of working in the creative economy, collaborating with the students from all of the MA Creative Economy courses. Together you will create, design and manage a viable creative enterprise project. This will form the context for subsequent learning throughout the course.

Managing Creativity and Innovation:

You will be encouraged to develop your entrepreneurial management ability, developing behaviours and an attitude to learning that copes with and enjoys uncertainty, risks and complexity. The core curriculum of this learning goal will underpin the knowledge and skills required for the 'Creative Economy'.

Contemporary Issues in the Creative Economy:

The growth of the 'creative industries' within advanced capitalist countries is a post-World War II phenomenon, with a history that was originally deeply hostile to capitalism but, increasingly, dependent upon it for constant reinvigoration. Creative practices are also of key significance in the 'sustainability' debate about the environmental, social and economic impact of globalisation. This module offers the opportunity to apply the ideas raised by these developments; and their potential for changing our societies, economies and cultures.

Leadership in the Creative Economy:

You will develop an understanding of leadership theories and how they apply to personal leadership style and organisational leadership in the context of the creative economy. You will develop skills, techniques and tools to support your learning, and will learn experientially about leadership in the creative economy through performance. There will be a strong focus on developing your individual leadership capability in practice.

Phase 2: The Creative Economy – in Focus

You will complete 60 credits worth of learning goals that relate to the creative industry specialism of your chosen course. The precise nature of these learning goals will be discussed with the course director and subject leader prior to course enrolment.

You can expect to take an active part in taught sessions and workshops and seminars where the emphasis is on the applied practical nature of the creative industry specialism. In the case of students with little previous specialist experiences, this will call for related reflective work that analyses the nature of the creative process in more detail.

Phase 3: The Creative Economy – Creating Value

You will develop a personal project of your choice. This project can take one of three main forms – a Masters level practice-based project; a dissertation; or an innovative new venture project.

Practice-based project:

You will develop a Masters level personal project that explores the creative process and practical challenges involved in creating value in the specialist area of your choice (e.g. an applied design project or response to a creative brief).

Dissertation:

Your personal dissertation will synthesise your knowledge and understanding of your specialist area of interest in the creative economy and will be relevant to your own career needs and aspirations. The likely focus of your dissertation will be on the commercialisation of creativity in your chosen area of interest.

Innovative new venture project:

Your innovative new venture project will allow you to establish a credible new venture plan for an innovative opportunity in your specialist area of interest. You will receive the support of tailored inputs in the form of workshops focusing on issues of marketing, intellectual property, finance and strategic planning.

Whichever option you choose, you will be encouraged to develop a deep understanding of how value is created and sustained within the often-contradictory environment of the creative economy.

Under the supervision of Kingston’s qualified staff, your programme of learning will help you connect directly with current practice and will enhance your employability.