New information design qualifications coming
April 2016
Ara Institute of Canterbury (formerly CPIT) is developing two new programmes to replace the online Graduate Diploma of Information Design, which was discontinued last year. A full-day workshop was held in March with industry representatives, graduates of the programme, and teaching staff to explore the industry requirements for information design graduates.
From this, the team developed an overall profile of the skill mix a graduate from such programmes would need to have. Work then moved to considering how components of the programmes might enable learning to match this profile.
The current proposal envisages both a 60 credit Graduate Certificate and a 120 credit Graduate Diploma (the same size as the previous programme).
The Certificate would consist of courses in professional writing, an introduction to the professional field, and an introduction to user experience and audience analysis – plus one other course from a specified list of four electives.
The Diploma would consist of the Certificate plus an internship (either 150 workplace hours, or those hours plus a research topic). The balance of the Diploma would consist of either two or three more courses from the specified elective list (depending on whether or not a research topic was undertaken). The specified list would include professional editing, usability testing, visual design and information management. One elective could be substituted from other suitable academic offerings from Ara Institute of Canterbury (such as project management, for example). Recognition of Prior Learning options will also be available, where professional experience can be used towards academic credits.
The enhanced flexibility in these study options, including an early exit point with the Certificate, will be attractive to a range of learners with varied career goals. We are continuing with our development process and it is hoped that Ara will offer the new programme in 2017.
Do you want to hear more from Ara Institute about the new qualifications?
>> Email design@ara.ac.nz <<