Collaborative community working

The module, Collaborative and Contextual Practice, part of the BA (Hons) Creative Media course at the University of Plymouth, is an example of the Inspiring Futures programme in action. The module enables students to understand the collaborative processes required to work in many professional sectors, such as teamwork, communication, and planning. It also provides students with the opportunity to put their research and development skills and knowledge into practice by contributing to new products or forms of cultural production through collaborative teamwork. Inspiring Futures ensures that students are provided with the opportunity to learn about what will be required from them in a professional setting, carrying out a project for a real client and learning from the experience.

Aminah, who recently completed this module, provided insight into their time working with a local client to expand their social media presence. By creating high-quality social media posts and expanding to platforms alternative to Facebook, such as Instagram, the student developed and delivered a strategic and targeted marketing campaign.

The company’s aim was to save and restore a local landmark and turn it into a multi-space venue. Accentuating the client’s community focus, the student initially planned to use interviews in their marketing campaign. Regrettably, they couldn’t gather enough interviews for what they had planned for. They overcame this barrier by rethinking their idea and cited a poem written about the heritage site to create a short documentary instead. For other content within the marketing campaign, the student also used GIFs, a new skill they developed through the project.

The business received an effective, broad social media marketing campaign, and Aminah gained experience of working on a collaborative project, refining their skills within a professional setting. These skills included: creativity, communication, problem solving and new marketing techniques. The content of the project also helped the student with their portfolio.

Student Knowledge Exchange projects such as these enable students to apply the skills they learn and develop throughout their degree to real world, professional challenges. Not only does this further their own skills, it also provides them with experience to add to their portfolio, whilst businesses benefit from the students’ knowledge and creative skills.