Economic incentives and financial rewards associated with advanced education in the arts and creative sector, both within the industry and beyond
In a recent policy brief titled "Policy Insight: Graduate motivations", researchers from the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex explore the implications of the Augar Review on creative industries innovation in seaside resorts and country towns. The policy brief can be referenced as Bloom, M. and Bakhshi, H. (2020).
The Augar Review, published in 2019, recommended significant changes to government subsidies and funding for UK higher education. As a result, reduced funding support for many creative subjects in higher education has been observed, with the focus shifting towards subjects deemed more economically "productive", such as STEM fields. This reduction has caused concern over the diminished provision and expansion of creative training programs at universities.
The growth of the creative industries, which rely heavily on a skilled workforce trained in creative higher education programs, has been impacted negatively. Limits on government subsidies have made it harder for universities to invest in creative subjects and for students to afford such courses, potentially constraining talent development and innovation in sectors like media, design, arts, and entertainment.
Although recent policy updates and industrial strategy documents recognize the creative sector’s economic importance, funding models remain challenging for creative education at UK universities. This dynamic is compounded by international student visa restrictions reducing diversity and global talent flow into UK universities, including creative courses.
Despite these challenges, the creative industries have grown at a rate more than twice that of the total UK economy over the last 10 years. The UK television production sector is one of Britain's leading creative export sectors. This policy brief also examines international trade in the UK creative industries and uses census data to provide a comprehensive analysis of audiences in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors.
The briefing suggests three ways to support growth in the creative industries. It outlines recommendations for transitioning to more sustainable theatre production and highlights the importance of maintaining a diverse and skilled workforce. The policy brief also emphasizes the need for continued investment in creative education to ensure the pipeline of skilled graduates entering the creative industries is growing at the needed pace.
The policy brief was published on 31st July 2020 and can be accessed at https://www.our website/policy-briefings/graduate-motivations-and-the-economic-returns-of-creative-higher-education-inside-and-outside-the-creative-industries. The photo for the policy brief is by Retha Ferguson. The research was conducted by Martha Bloom and Professor Hasan Bakhshi MBE, the Director of Creative PEC at the University of Sussex.
[1] This paragraph refers to the impact of international student visa restrictions, but the original bullet points do not provide specific information about this topic.
- The international student visa restrictions have reduced diversity and global talent flow into UK universities, including creative courses, posing additional challenges for the creative industries at large.
- The report suggests that transitioning to more sustainable theatre production should be prioritized, recognizing the importance of maintaining a diverse and skilled workforce in the creative sector.
- The document highlights the need for continued investment in creative education to ensure a steady supply of skilled graduates entering the creative industries at the required pace.
- The UK television production sector, one of Britain's leading creative export sectors, has grown at a rate more than twice that of the total UK economy over the last 10 years, demonstrating the economic importance of the creative industries.
- The policy brief uses census data to provide a comprehensive analysis of audiences in the arts, culture, and heritage sectors.
- The reduction in funding support for many creative subjects in higher education, resulting from the Augar Review's recommendations, has caused concern over the provision and expansion of creative training programs at universities.
- The Augar Review, published in 2019, recommended changes to government subsidies and funding for UK higher education, leading to a notable decrease in support for creative subjects and a shift towards STEM fields.
- The briefing maintains that investing in creative education is crucial to support growth in the creative industries, despite difficulties in securing funding due to challenging funding models for creative education at UK universities.
- The policy brief suggests emphasizing education-and-self-development and policy-and-legislation for optimal growth in the creative industries, considering the general-news and learning opportunities offered by these programs.
- The document provides evidence supporting the argument that the creative industries have an essential role in the economy through internationalisation, innovation, and cultural heritage preservation.
- The policy brief was carried out by Martha Bloom and Professor Hasan Bakhshi MBE, the Director of Creative PEC at the University of Sussex, and can be accessed through the provided link, which features a photo by Retha Ferguson.
