Futureworks Training Limited:

Equipping graduates for a rapidly changing creative industry

How Futureworks embraced flexible curriculum design and worked closely with the industry to meet the needs of the creative sector and the expectations of students, using an approach that was recognised as excellent by the TEF panel. 

Futureworks Training Limited, based in Manchester and Salford’s MediaCityUK, has pioneered an innovative approach to preparing graduates for seamless transitions into their first professional roles in the creative industries. Traditionally, young creatives have faced a significant adjustment period, learning new methodologies to adapt to the realities of the industry.

Futureworks has embraced a flexible curriculum design, ensuring that its programmes remain dynamic and aligned with the latest industry trends. This adaptability is fostered by a panel of industry experts who provide ongoing guidance and ensure the curriculum is relevant.

By empowering students to produce professional-calibre work throughout their courses, Futureworks effectively bridges the gap between academia and the professional world. Graduates emerge equipped with the skills and experience to make immediate contributions in their chosen fields. Futureworks remains dedicated to providing its students with the necessary tools to thrive in this ever-evolving sector.

Futureworks’ approach to preparing its graduates for the creative industries was recognised as excellent by the TEF panel.

As degree programmes are updated every five or six years, Futureworks identified a number of challenges in how to respond to the rapid changes in technology and workflows in the creative sector:

• designing degree programmes that remain relevant and produce graduates who are well prepared for the industry in 2030
• embedding authentic assessment design into the curriculum while ensuring that assessment briefs and expectations stay up to date
• ensuring graduates are proficient in the latest software, hardware and workflows upon graduation, even though these tools and techniques may not have existed when the course was originally designed or updated. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a prime example of this rapid evolution
• in a fast-paced and competitive sector, showcasing graduates’ creative talents through portfolios and showreels that reflect the latest industry advancements, while maintaining academic integrity, standards and adherence to regulations.

Futureworks is committed to producing graduates who are employment-ready from day one. The institution established an industry advisory group comprising employers, graduates, academics and current students to stay abreast of the latest changes in workflows, evolving technology and professional expectations. This focus on continuous horizon-scanning enables staff and students to discuss and debate the direction for courses to take, including the need to refine or rewrite assessment briefs.

Futureworks integrates this industry-centric approach throughout its teaching, learning and assessment processes. Staff deliver curriculums built around industry-recognised workflows, artefact and portfolio creation, with employability skills embedded in every assignment. Modules are designed to develop known good practices and, in many cases, feature briefs negotiated between students and tutors or set by employers in the creative sector. Regular guest lectures, constructive feedback and self-reflection further enhance the learning experience.

Group and peer feedback is a core component of the Futureworks experience, acclimatising students to receiving critical feedback on their work and reflecting on their approach to tasks. This replicates the form and nature of feedback provided in the industry, further preparing students for professional life.

By their final year, students are expected to produce professional-standard output in their specialist field. Mirroring the collaborative nature of work in the creative sector, Futureworks emphasises group learning and assessment. Students gain exposure to cross-disciplinary perspectives, learn the language and workflows of peers with different specialisms, and jointly overcome production challenges.

This approach is underpinned by a flexible curriculum design that provides ample space for students to negotiate their own projects with their tutors.

Through this approach, students have a clearer path into the industry and a better understanding of the specific roles and functions of commercial studios. In many cases, employers seek out Futureworks' students prior to graduation for work experience and paid work.

Students report more confidence, particularly in presenting their work and when speaking to employers. They increasingly know their own worth as young professionals - getting paid for commercial work that other students may take on for free in return for professional credit.

Futureworks' focus on developing and showcasing practical skills, tailored to each individual student, avoids many of the barriers inherent in less flexible assessment methods. This approach works especially well for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties.

In addition, satisfaction among students is high, as recognised by the National Student Survey (NSS). The TEF panel also found many features of the student experience to be outstanding, including teaching, feedback and assessment practices, course content and delivery, and employer engagement.

While the industry panel members are experts in their respective fields, they may not necessarily have expertise in higher education. As a result, Futureworks found that their time was more effectively used in sharing advice and best practices rather than directly commenting on validation documents.

Although Futureworks prioritises the development of students' industry skills, cross-disciplinary collaboration remains primarily an extracurricular activity. Students have expressed a strong desire to collaborate on assessed projects across courses, schoolsan, and disciplines.

Moving forward, Futureworks plans to expand the role of its alumni community in further enriching the work of its industry advisory group, opening up even more opportunities for its students.