Paul Linden, Moderator
3:15 - Improving Student Work Readiness and Graduate Outcomes through Strategic Training Partnerships
3:45 - Experiential Learning through Academic Artist Residency: A Case Study
Improving Student Work Readiness and Graduate Outcomes through Strategic Training Partnerships Katy Richards, Australian College of the ArtsTo prepare students for careers in their chosen industries, educational institutions often partner with industry bodies to provide internships and guest speakers, offering valuable practical experience and career insights. In this presentation, however, I will explore a different type of partnership with an industry education provider designed to enhance student work readiness and graduate outcomes through targeted training and certifications. Launching in 2025, the Australian College of the Arts (Collarts) will begin a strategic partnership with the Arts Centre Melbourne (ACM) to provide training and qualifications that complement Collarts’ academic programs. ACM is a government-owned series of indoor and outdoor venues and a Registered Training Organization specializing in Creative Arts training. While their training has historically been for their venue staff, this partnership enables Collarts students to access ACM’s industry-specific certifications, such as:
- Work Health and Safety in Live Production
- Work Safely at Heights
- Arena Rigging
- Operate Flying Systems
- Develop and Implement Own Self-Care Plan for the Creative Industries
This initiative extends across various Collarts courses, including Stage Management, Music Production, Audio Engineering, Circus Arts, Performing Arts, and Event Management. Each course can select the most appropriate additional certifications for their students. These certifications are crucial for safety compliance and mandatory to work on a live production. Students will graduate with their diploma or degree from Collarts, along with the skill set and certifications required for immediate employment. By integrating these qualifications into Collarts’ curriculum, the partnership is anticipated to significantly enhance students’ work readiness and graduate outcomes by providing comprehensive skill sets and certifications. These qualifications offer clear pathways to employment, ensuring students are equipped for immediate and meaningful roles in live entertainment after they graduate. This presentation will explore the process of building a partnership with an external provider while ensuring cost efficiency. I will also demonstrate examples of embedding additional qualifications into the curriculum without compromising the quality of education.
Experiential Learning through Academic Artist Residency: A Case Study Joe Steinhardt, Drexel University Ryan Moys, Drexel UniversityThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the value and potential for Artists Residency programs in music industry education through a case study on work we did with Keith Secola at Drexel University in 2023 and 2024. Keith Secola is Anishinabe (Ojibwa), originally from the Mesabi Iron Range country of northern Minnesota. Secola is an influential and celebrated artist, whose best known song, NDN Kars (Indian cars), has been the number-one requested song on tribal radio since 1992. In 2011, he joined the ranks of Jimmy Hendrix, Hank Williams, Crystal Gale, and Richie Valens and was inducted into the Native Music Hall of Fame.
Starting in 2023, we have been working with Keith to record a rock opera called
Seeds in residency at the Music Industry Program at Drexel University. Recording the album at Drexel allowed Keith to bring his experience and knowledge to our program and allowed us to work toward the repatriation of our resources to Indigenous artists. While Keith has been working on the rock opera for nearly a decade, and has performed part of it live, including at The Kennedy Center and The Smithsonian, we utilized a recording and production technique that aims to incorporate the recording environment into the fabric of the recording itself. Thus, this recording project not only engaged student engineers and producers, but offered them a look at and chance to be directly involved in the writing and performance process of the work. The finished album will also engage students in the marketing and label elements. Thus, students leave the experience not only with hands on practice and knowledge, but with earned industry credits. The full learning outcomes from the experience are explicated, and describe the value of this type of learning and education to the student and professional experience.
