Independent higher education providers are ready to deliver real choice and innovation in a tertiary education system
The next Government should:
- Commit to the LLE as the foundation for flexible learning through tertiary education
- Task a Tertiary Education Commission with refocusing regulation on growth and innovation
Futureworks
Futureworks is a Manchester-based higher education provider specialising in creative subjects such as games design, music and audio production, filmmaking and digital animation. Their nine degree courses are designed in liaison with industry and delivered in state-of-the-art facilities across their two sites - the main campus in central Manchester and the studio facility based at MediaCityUK in Salford.
Approximately 75% of students are from Greater Manchester or the north west region, meeting a local demand from learners and producing graduates with the specialist skills to meet the requirements of future employers in their chosen fields.
Courses are created by identifying industry needs to inform programme design and necessary applicant attributes. Where applicable, additional certification alongside studies gives graduates industry-recognised qualifications. Whilst students specialise in their chosen subject for the full duration of their degree, they work collaboratively with their fellow students across the suite of courses at Futureworks, allowing them to problem-solve across specialisms on real-life industry projects.
All teaching staff are still active in their respective fields; this includes BAFTA award winners and industry professionals from major companies like the BBC, Disney, and HBO, ensuring a high-quality education and practical training in classes which are kept purposefully small.
Relevant staff are on hand to provide personalised support to students and offer technical learning guidance and resources seven days a week, often late in the evening and outside of term time. Their commitment to very high-quality student experiences and outcomes has been recognised with a silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) in 2019 and 2023.
Providing funding and opportunity to access learning flexibly is critical for growth in the industry
Futureworks partners with employers to offer corporate training in the technical skills used in their industry. They have an open course in Avid Media Composer & Pro Tools, and deliver courses in Apple FCP and Logic, camera training and more. This skills focus is part of every Futureworks degree; modular delivery through the LLE could open these skills opportunities to more students across their industry. With so many in the creative industries working as sole traders or part of SMEs and start-ups, providing funding and opportunity to access learning flexibly is critical for growth in the industry.
Futureworks has a longstanding and successful partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to deliver their qualifications but their aim is for greater flexibility in meeting industry and learner needs by achieving their own Degree Awarding Powers and expanding their course portfolio. This will include more business-to-business and professional training courses.
Futureworks is an example of a provider who has navigated the complexities of regulation whilst exemplifying industry-aligned education. For their next steps they need a system with fewer inefficiencies and a focus on growth and innovation to truly deliver choice and flexibility to students throughout their learning journeys.