In the autumn of 2008 Jyväskylä Polytechnic will launch an international Degree Programme in Music and Media Management which will produce experts in business related to the music, media and entertainment industries. The first intake for this four-year programme will comprise 40 students.
Those who graduate from the Music and Media Management programme will earn the title Bachelor of Culture and Arts.
Behind the introduction of the new degree programme stands the powerful transition phase in the music and media branches which requires a new kind of preparation in order to take on the role of producer.
As a consequence of digitalization, the internet and technological development music and media are undergoing powerful changes. In the future music industry professionals will need a whole range of competences: information technology, media and AV technology skills as well as expertise in entrepreneurship and relevant legislation, states Hannu Ikonen, Director of the School of Cultural Studies at Jyväskylä Polytechnic.
According to Ikonen the rapid development of the branch presents constant challenges to education.
The combinations of music and media are nowadays highly multidimensional, and in consequence a high demand exists for specialists who can cope with the revolution currently occurring in the field, Ikonen concludes.
By Timo Sillanpää, Photo Pekka Rötkönen