Industry Advisory Committee - Keeping us on Track
The Industry Advisory Committee is now an integral part of IDEA. Established by the Director of Studies, Jillian Hocking, the Committee held its inaugural meeting on 26th March. The Committee will ensure that the courses we offer align with, and remain relevant to, current industry practice; and that our teaching remains industry focused and linked. The establishment of this Committee will also extend our contacts in the interactive media sector and assist in finding placements with relevant industry bodies for our students, consequently improving IDEA students employability.

The Industry Advisory Committee is an impressive and dynamic group of industry professionals comprising Colin McKinnon, Group Editorial Learning and Development Manager, Fairfax Media; Frances Green, National Training Adviser, ABC Innovation; Katya Kiwitter, Training Co-ordinator, SBS Radio/TV; Melanie Hick, Fashion Editor, The Vine (online magazine), Fairfax Media; Reece Lamshed, Binary Blue (e-learning consultancy) – Industry and Vocational Education and Training expertise; Liam Thorne, Maxo, (animation and visual effects company); Paul FuÖg, Coop, (visual communication company).

We are extremely grateful to the Advisory Committee for their time, their invaluable professional expertise and their commitment to keeping IDEA's courses attuned to contemporary technological developments and aligned with current industry practice. 

Animation on the Big Screen
Melbourne's Federation Square Big Screen Producer has offered guest programming slots for I.D.E.A.'s Multimedia projects, calling our students' animation work "exceptional". Stills work from our Graphic and Visual Arts students will also be screened.

Federation Square is a member of the International Urban Screen Association comprising five countries, allowing circulation of our students' work for screening in Dubai,  Milan,  London and New York. This initiative will provide invaluable international exposure for our students on a professional level.

Graduation Night for our 2008 students
Congratulations to all our 08 Graduates who celebrated the completion of their studies during an auspicious ceremony at ACMI the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square. A total of 65 students graduated in May. 

 

IDEA’s Director of Studies, Jillian Hocking, congratulates all graduates and encourages them to pursue their dreams. 




Graduation guest speaker Gonzalo Lopez, Program Manager, SBS Radio/TV stresses the importance of passion and creativity in whatever you do. 



IDEA's Director of Studies speech follows:
Hello and welcome. I'm Jillian Hocking and I wear two hats at IDEA - I'm the Director of Studies but I'm also the course Co-ordinator of the Screen and Media, Integrated Journalism Diploma.I want to start by thanking all of you for coming here tonight, but I'd particularly like to thank the staff at IDEA who have worked hard behind the scenes to make an event like this possible, and our guest speaker from SBS, Gonzalo Lopez.

I've been Director of Studies for almost eight months and in that time we've said goodbye to some staff and welcomed several new and much needed ones who are proving to be a strong and constructive force which I thank you for. This year I have pursued, and implemented, several significant initiatives for the Institute. I've established an Industry Advisory Committee to help guide the content of the courses we offer - ensuring our courses align with, and remain relevant to, current industry practice; and that our teaching remains industry focused and linked. The establishment of this Committee will also extend our industry contacts. The Committee comprises nine professionally impressive industry representatives, and gives IDEA direct links with key industry stakeholders - which can only benefit our students while they're studying at IDEA, and when they're looking for employment.

Last year I was invited by the Kuwaiti government on an Australian Professional Women's Delegation, to visit the region. The aim of the delegation was to learn more about the Arab world and culture, and establish partnerships. Consequently, I am currently looking at ways to boost bilateral cooperation, and developing several teaching opportunities in the Middle East. I am also working on establishing a number of yearly scholarships so some of our broadcast journalism students can visit Kuwait and enhance their understanding and critical analytical skills when reporting issues concerning the Middle East, by visiting the Arab region and meeting people who would enrich their understanding of culture, faith, education, health, and the economy.

And for our Multimedia and Graphic Arts students, I recently negotiated an agreement with Federation Square's Big Screen Producer to screen our students animation and Graphic Arts work. There is a proviso though; the material has to be G rated so no shooting guns or cutting off body parts and they'll be happy. Federation Square is a member of the International Urban Screen Association comprising five countries, so our material will also be circulated to Dubai, Milan, London and New York. This initiative is invaluable exposure for our students’ work.

I am also developing links with Bordeaux University in France where I have been asked to teach first year Tourism students, media skills, and in Kazakhstan where I conducted training last year. So this is an evolving and exciting time for the Institute. Getting our students work into the public arena, and forming strategic partnerships, will form important projects that I'll be pursuing as Director of Studies.

And now to the students who are graduating here tonight. What I am particularly proud of at IDEA is how all our teachers go out of their way to form a caring, professional relationship with all our students. Students at IDEA are not only well taught, but they are also well cared for. Because IDEA is a small Institute our students are never just a faceless number amongst a hundred others in a crowded lecture hall. Our students are not only nurtured by our teachers, but are also well equipped to meet contemporary technological challenges, and evolving industry expectations.

I hope all students graduating from IDEA will become part of an ever expanding global community of new digital media users, after all it is you who are in increasing demand in this rapidly changing environment.