By Nick Sheridan

The Masters Programme, which is supported by Skillset as part of the Build Your Own MA programme, is open to experienced professionals (including Co-ordinators, Production Executives and Heads of Production as well as Production Managers) working within the UK production management community who are looking to gain a competitive advantage within the industry.

There are three high-level academic awards associated with the Programme. These are the Post Graduate Certificate in Production Management, where participants complete three units (all of which are delivered by The Academy); the Post Graduate Diploma in Production Management where participants complete a further three units, one of which is delivered by The Academy with the other two being chosen from a wide selection offered by Bournemouth; and the Masters in Production Management, awarded following the successful completion of a dissertation which is marked by the Bournemouth Skillset Media Academy.

The qualification provides students with the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge gained within their everyday working life so they can apply operational experiences to their academic study. Applicants who want to apply for the Masters Programme do not require a first degree.

The current 2010 intake of students includes production management staff from IMG Media, BBC London Factual, BBC London 2012, BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, Bristol and Manchester.

Students are supported by tutors from the Bournemouth Skillset Media Academy and the BBC Academy, with guest lecturers who are subject experts in the industry. Students are also encouraged to form a learning network with other students on the Programme.

Anne Morrison, Director, BBC Academy said, “The Masters Programme is the gold standard for people working in production management. It aims to consolidate high levels of skills and learning which are consistent and portable. We’re really hoping to attract a wide range of candidates from across the broadcast industry.”

Dorothy Prior, Controller, Production Resources said, “I’m thrilled the Masters Programme has taken off. It has been a long held dream to create a professional qualification for production management. I’m pleased the BBC has been able to take a lead for the industry and grateful for the active support from Bournemouth University and Skillset.”

Chief executive of Skillset, Dinah Caine, said: “This Masters Programme is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when industry and higher education some together to address an industry’s skills needs. We are so pleased to have been involved in the development of this programme, which is a fantastic extension of the Build Your Own MA programme that we rolled out in Skillset Media Academies across England in the summer.”

Applicants must be able to commit to 200 learning hours per unit alongside their day job within production. They will also be required to attend units in person in May 2011, September 2011 and January 2012 at the BBC’s Academy in White City, London. Applicants must also ensure they have funding in place before they apply. Full details of the Masters Programme are available online at by visiting www.bbcacademy.com.

Industry professionals who are interested in applying for the Masters Programme should download an application form by visiting www.bbcacademy.com.

Key dates for applicants:

• Applications are now open

• Applications must be received by midnight on Monday 10 January

• Successful candidates will be notified by the end of March 2011

For further information about the Masters Programme in Production Management contact Ailsa O’Shea, Training Coordinator, BBC Academy on 020 8752 6847.

About the author and Skillset

Nick Sheridan is Press and PR Officer at Skillset, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media, with responsibility for 60 per cent of the UK Creative Industries. This comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, advertising and fashion and textiles. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenges by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.