Hyper Island

NESTA is working in partnership with Hyper Island to develop a digital media educational programme for 18-25 year olds in the UK that produces industry-ready workers.

Find out more about the Hyper Island pilot programme

Applications for the programme have now closed.

The Interactive Media Design and Management pilot, based in Manchester, launched on 23 May 2011 offering 23 students an alternative start towards a career in interactive media, communications and advertising. At Hyper Island there are no teachers, no tests, no homework or textbooks; instead students will immerse themselves in 20 weeks of project-based activity, responding to real briefs set by industry partners, followed by a 12 week internship. The Hyper Island students will develop skills in problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and project management in an environment designed to mirror the workplace.

Read the full press release

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About Hyper Island

Hyper Island is an innovative educational model first developed in Sweden in 1995 and is successfully helping to address the shortage of skills and talent in the country’s digital media sector.

92% find jobs

Hyper Island works closely with industry partners to design and deliver digital media programmes, using a distinctive way of working which features answering briefs set by industry, problem-based learning and work experience within businesses. The method helps students to develop specialist technical skills for the sector, as well as more generic skills such as entrepreneurialism, leadership and communication. Hyper Island reports that 92% of its students find work within the digital media sector upon graduation.

UK pilot programme

We are keen to test whether the Swedish model works in the UK market, supporting students to move quickly and easily into employment. We are partnering with Hyper Island to:

• Support a 32 week pilot of the Hyper Island educational programme in the UK
• Develop evidenced-based insights for educational policy-makers, skills bodies and industry leaders, highlighting effective and alternative ways of developing robust and relevant skills in students
• Develop practical advice about how to involve industry in educational design and delivery, in order to produce graduates with the skills needed by industry, which will be relevant across a number of sectors and educational contexts.

Applications for the programme have now closed.