UV opens 1st media and design academy

CEBU, Philippines - University of the Visayas (UV) is opening the first academy of New Media and Design in a bid to secure Cebu’s spot in the international creative industry.

The university is partnering with Empire Creative Group composed of practicing creative talents led by Genesis Raña for this initiative.

This industry-driven educational platform, which will soon get its accreditation from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will operate under the management of UVNS (University of the Visayas New School).

UVNS is a creative 21st century school for media and design which aims to provide opportunity for every creative, passionate, and dedicated individual to discover his true creative potential.

Initially, the school will open up three-month courses on photography, digital illustration, and virtual design, said Raña in a press conference Wednesday.

A one-year diploma course will also be introduced in these three courses which will emphasize the skill development of creative individuals in the visual collateral segment in the broad creative sector.

While Cebu is known for its good pool of   creative talents, Raña said it is high time for Cebu to provide a legitimate institution for professionals where they can hone their talents, and achieve balance in literacy and creativity.

“We don’t only focus on creativity [as a skill], but also in improving creative literacy,” he said.

The three-month courses in visual design which include photography is pegged at Php60,000 thousand, while the four-year diploma course in animation, video production is priced at Php150,000.

Raña, who is also the school director, added that this first design school in Cebu will answer the huge disconnect between the academe and the industry players in the creative industry.

Aside from improving the creative individuals talents in creativity, the school will also promote entrepreneurship among students. 

The school will be located at the UV Banilad, and will accommodate a maximum of 30 students per course at one time.

“It’s an intensive yet efficient way to learn. The curriculum is dynamic. There will be various forms of assessment including one-on-one critiques, group discussions and formal assessment tasks,” Raña added.

In the year 2000, the creative economy was estimated to be worth US$2.2 trillion worldwide, and its was growing at five percent annually.

The global entertainment and media industry alone is projecting to inject around US$2.2 trillion in the world economy by 2012.

Global exports of creative goods and services — products such as arts and crafts, audiovisuals, books, design work, films, music, new media, printed media, visual and performing arts, and creative services registered more than double growth between 2002 and 2008.

The total value of these exports reached US$592 billion in 2008 and the growth rate of the industry over the six-year period averaged 14 percent.

The British Council has named Cebu as the “Creative City” in the Philippines. This recognition has bolstered the positioning of Cebu in becoming the supplier of extraordinary creative talents in the worldwide market. — (FREEMAN)