Our managing director, John Adkins has been lecturing at Birmingham City University for several years. Here we talk to Dr. Roy Priest, head of department for Digital Media Technology who tells us more.
“John’s on-going, informal engagement with industry-based professionals is core to our approach to enhancing graduate employability for students on our BSc Music Technology and BSc Sound Engineering & Production courses at Birmingham City University. He has been sharing his vast experience of the live events sector with students for many years. Students benefit from the insight covering all aspects of events management and production, from logistics and health and safety to sustainability and infrastructure.
John has delivered various guest lectures, including leading a public-facing panel discussion around safely delivering major live events under COVID restrictions. He really enjoys interactive sessions with the students, having them engage with concepts through problem solving activities, allowing them to contextualise the learning in their own assessment work.
The aim of the Industrial Mentors initiative is to maximise the potential for ongoing informal communication between students, industry-based professionals and academics. This approach has been developed at BCU and its potential has received international recognition. Students have the opportunity to interact with a range of industry professionals through an online forum throughout their time on our sound courses. Discussions may be around the development of particular skills, placements, careers development or new technologies. Through this medium, students gain insight and build their professional networks. John has been a supporter of the Industrial Mentors forums from its inception and continues to share his knowledge for the benefit of students.
The various ways in which John shares his experience with our students demonstrates his commitment to ensuring that the next generation of industry professionals are drawn to working in this exciting and fast-evolving sector.”
John’s next lectures are:
November 12th – Event Management Lecture
November 18th – Event Management and Live Sound tutorials