Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Leeds Beckett University first to gain prestigious accreditation
The Northern Film School has received the JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) accreditation for both of its courses – the BA (Hons) and MA Filmmaking. Leeds Beckett University was also the first university in England to become a JAMES Integrated Learning Centre in January 2014, when it received accreditation for its Music provision, within the School of Film, Music and Performing Arts.
Integrated Learning Centre status is awarded when a university receives JAMES accreditation for seven or more courses.
The panel of assessors commended the professional experience of the Northern Film School’s academic staff, strong links to industry and the opportunities that the courses provide for student collaborations across the wider School and University.
The panel also stated that the Northern Film School has become a benchmark against which all other Film courses would need to be measured.
Andrew Fryer, Head of the School of Film, Music and Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett University, said: “As an established JAMES Integrated Learning Centre for our Music provision, we are delighted that students in our Northern Film School will also benefit from accreditation from a professional body that represents industry organisations across the media industries sector and be assured that current industry practice is fully represented in the design and delivery of their courses.”
Larra Anderson, Director of the Northern Film School, commented: “The JAMES accreditation means a tremendous amount for the Northern Film School because it speaks directly to the strengths of our staff’s professional skills and the industry standards of our facilities. We take great pride in these qualities and being the first film school to gain recognition from JAMES for these is extremely gratifying.”
David Ward, JAMES Policy Director, added, "JAMES consider accreditation of Film Studies along with Performance and Technical Theatre important new priorities. We were therefore delighted to discover a passion for handing on professional knowledge at the Northern Film School and consider this an international benchmark for accreditations in this area.
“The integration of sound, music and allied studies makes the School of Film, Music and Performing Arts at Leeds Beckett University a true reflection of what it means to be a JAMES Integrated Learning Centre and the first institution to be awarded this status in England.”
JAMES is made up of dedicated audio industry professionals and academics who create and maintain supportive links between education and the media industries and ensure that many years of professional experience are not lost to future generations.
JAMES accredits education on behalf of the Association of Professional Recording Services (APRS), Music Producers’ Guild (MPG), Music Managers' Forum (MMF), PLASA (the lead international membership body for those who supply technologies and services to the event, entertainment and installation industries) and the UK Screen Association.
JAMES is endorsed by British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA), Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IASIG) and Association of Motion Picture Sound (AMPS).
For more information about the Northern Film School, please visit www.northernfilmschool.co.uk and for more information about JAMES, please see http://www.jamesonline.org.uk/.
Image: l-r Larra Anderson, David Ward, Wendy Laybourn (JAMES) and Andrew Fryer.