Fast track to qualifications

Fast track to qualifications ACMs new programme to produce 19 year-old graduates

The Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford have announced a new style of degree programme, which takes only two years to complete, as opposed to three. The ACM have also announced a BTEC programme which only takes one year, meaning secondary school leavers could be out in the industry with a degree after only three years instead of five.

The Accelerated Learning Programme will launch in September 2013 and has been designed to keep costs down for students. The same number of study weeks are included in the two year courses as in the three years courses, but holidays are shortened to fit in all of the content.

ACM will be offering the intensive courses for all of their degree programmes, which include Performance, Audio Production and Music Business.

With greater pressure than ever for Higher Education Institutions to equip their graduates with skills that will lead to employment, and ever-increasing tuition fees, this can only be a welcome addition in the education market. Perhaps this development will push other institutions to follow suit and offer more intensive degree courses as well.

Read on for more information from ACM.

Press Release: ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music) has taken the unprecedented step to offer all new music students its entire Degree course portfolio over two years instead of three.

Launching in September 2013, the Accelerated Learning Programme will be unique to higher education in the UK, giving ACM students the unprecedented opportunity to condense all ACM degree courses into two years study. Students wishing to progress to industry after just one year will have the option of leaving with a Certificate of Higher Education, which provides them with 120 Higher Education credits. The new structure was conceived as a means to reduce tuition fees and provide a fast track to the industry, which is currently unavailable elsewhere. Under the Accelerated Learning Programme, an ACM student could leave ACM with a degree aged 19.

ACM CEO Julia Leggett said, In our almost 20 years experience of working with artists, producers and music entrepreneurs of the future, we recognise that traditional Higher Education structures dont allow the flexibility required to support the modern music industry. Students need flexible study options that fit their aspirations and the music industry needs fresh new talent, a condensed programme satisfies both.

Under the new structure, a student will have the flexibility to achieve a BTEC Diploma (equivalent to 2 A levels) in one year as opposed to two and then have the option of signing up to either the accelerated 2 year Degree course or the one year Higher Diploma.

All of ACM's Higher Education courses are validated by Middlesex University. The number of weeks studied mirrors that of other Degree courses, as do all regulations, but the holiday periods are significantly shortened. Not only does this provide a more intense period of study where the student is able to consolidate their learning experiences more easily, but in today's climate it also brings considerable financial advantages without the need for students to have to pay living costs whilst not actually studying.

ACM's Director of Education Nik Preston said, ACM's primary concern is to ensure that our courses are the mostappealing to both students and the industry that is ultimately going to recruit them. In response to the lack of higher education funding now available, and the subsequent higher tuition fees being incurred by students, ACM has sought to provide the structure that enables students to reduce their living costs and tuition fees by a year, begin to work professionally one year sooner than any of our competitors and not be removed from our tutors and facilities for extended holiday periods.

LINK:	http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=15988...
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