CREATIVE INDUSTRIES GLOBAL NETWORK (CIGN) – PROJECT OUTCOMES AND CONCLUSION: CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS

This abstract and subsequent paper will focus on the outcomes of the Erasmus+ project (CIGN) paying particular attention to curricular developments that have been implemented at both national and international levels in Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and Canada.

The paper begins with a short resume of the three-year project to date and describes the research and curricular development phases followed by modular implementation at national levels. The process and results of student and peer evaluations of modules that had a first delivery in the partner countries during the 2016/17 sessions will also be investigated.

The paper will then address how information and experiences were disseminated to a broader audience. This included module descriptors, learning and teaching materials, news and conference presentations and workshops throughout the lifespan of the project.

As part of the curriculum development and dissemination stages, the project also hosted two staff development workshops. In the paper the impact that these have had on participating organisations from around the world will be reviewed. This included the closing conference held in Germany in May 2017. The opportunities for dissemination and the impact that this event had on participating delegates will be discussed in the paper.

The paper will also pay particular attention to the impact that the CIGN project had on individual Higher Education Institution (HEI) curricula at partner and associate partner institutions across Europe and beyond, as well as how the project impacted the National Curriculum in Scotland.

We will particularly focus on how this curricular development impacted upon external, (non-partner) associate universities and organisations. These included associate universities and colleges from Estonia, Switzerland, Russia, Portugal, the USA and Malaysia.

Dissemination of project results to non-partner organisations such as: Sector Skills Councils in the UK; GRAFKOM in Sweden; KOMM (an industry organization for agencies within nine different disciplines of marketing communication) and The Swedish Graphic Industries Federation; (GF) an employer and trade organisation for Swedish companies within the graphic and packaging industry; The European Graphic/Media Industry Network (EGIN) and the International Circle of Educational Institutes for Graphic Arts Technology and Management (IC), will also be investigated.

The paper will conclude with the way forward for collaboration between existing and future associate partners.