How to equip commercial communication students for the world of work?

-towards greater specialization or a more general approach?

By Roger Sjögren, Director, Hyper Island

What is Hyper Island?

A private enterprise that perform, among other activities, 3 long-term vocational university programs based on the real needs within the digital and interactive media industry.

We have developed a methodology we strongly believe in and recognize as a huge success.

To get the perception of the world of work

-Dialogue with 600 industry persons-Visiting about 100 companies-Organized interviews with 100 industry persons-Offering an online form for companies to give us feedback-Participating in different networks-Read studies and statistics related to needs of today and in the future

Every year!

Our perception of the world of work

-The “handicraft”-Entrepreneurial skills-Interpersonal communication-Lateral understanding-Change management-Problem solving-Self management-Team player

Are students in general equiped?

NO!

-Extremely high focus on “The handicraft”!

-Low level in change management, self management, interpersonal communication etc.

Hyper Island equipping students

-No teachers - only industry people- Internal staff focusing on guiding and coaching- Courses are directed to create strong experiences- Learning by doing, reflecting and taking action (Progressive learning)- Tasks are problem-based - All courses are created by industry representatives- Lateral thinking and multidisciplinary approach

Conclusions

-A need for specialists with a general understanding-A need for generalists with an understanding of specialists

Most of all a need to equip students with qualities greater than “the handicraft”.

Some facts

-90% of students have a fulltime employment before they graduate-Hyper Island students have the highest average salary in Scandinavia among the AD/Design schools-Each student get in average 5-10 internship offers-Client evaluations recognize “Hyper Island companies”-”Hyper Island company” voted as the best working environment in all categories in Sweden