DO YOU NEED A FORMAL EDUCATION TO WORK IN “DIGITAL”?

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Allow me to introduce myself: • 19 years old • Left education at 16 • 3 years “industry” experience • User Experience designer @ Sky • Find me on Twitter: @LiamHutchinson_ If you wanted to follow Ben, follow me instead

72 people filled out the survey posted on both Twitter & Linkedin Thanks to everyone who filled in & shared the survey

The results…

No 21% Yes 79% Do you have a university degree or similar higher education qualification?

How long ago was it since you achieved your qualification? Years since 1-3 Years 4-6 Years 7-10 Years 10+ Years

Do you think the qualification you gained has had an ongoing benefit to your career? No 29% Yes 71%

“As it was over 10 years ago everything I learned is now more than a bit dated. The degree did get me started on the career path I continue to be on so you might argue that it has an ongoing benefit of sorts”

No 86% Yes 14% Do you think this has hindered your career in anyway?

“Anyone I have ever worked with has confessed to learning more in the industry/in their own time, rather than a degree even in a relevant subject.”

No 13% Yes 87% Looking back, would you still have made the same decision regarding higher/formal education?

“I spent a long time paying back student related debt. The experience of going to university (looking after myself, leaving home, 10 pints a night) taught be more than my degree. This is what made me the more rounded person and manager I am today.”

What I’m going to cover: • Experience V Education • Importance of a mentor(s) • The industry has the most up to date curriculum • What’s worth £40,000-£50,000? • The value of making “real mistakes”

Experience V Education

“Overall, we would choose experience and attitude over qualifications whether for a dev role or creative role” Lyndsey Henderson - Head of Talent Acquisition at rentalcars.com

Importance of a mentor(s)

“Regardless of your direction, I think it’s important to have a mentor or a guide to help articulate a direction for you.” Christopher Murphy - Senior Lecturer at the Belfast School of Art

The industry has the most up to date curriculum

“We can't keep up on all new technologies and technical skills. The job of academic doesn’t currently allow this" WATCH THIS: hey.wearestac.com/talks/anti-glacial-education Richard Eskins - Senior Lecture, Manchester Metropolitan University

What’s worth £40,000- £50,000 of debt?

The value of making “real mistakes”

“Mistakes are the worst thing you can make in national education systems” Sir Ken Robinson - Do Schools kill creativity? (Ted Talk)

The recap • Education isn’t as much a requirement as it once was* • If you haven’t already, get a mentor or 6 • Make some mistakes & learn from it • Working in the industry is the most up to date curriculum • Make stuff (happen) *This is regarding digital/creative sectors. Some professions will always require degrees etc

“It’s just tragic, that you can spend four years of your life studying the design of three dimensional objects and not make one.” Design education is "tragic" says Jonathan Ive

So, do you need an education to work in digital?

IMHO - No, you don’t need a formal education

Huge thanks: Christopher Murphy / @fehler Richard Eskins / @eskins Chris Compston / @ndxcc Natasha Sayce-Zelem / @unharmonic Jimmy Adams / @JimmySkyDigital Rhys Billington Lyndsey Henderson All who shared and filled in my survey! Last but not least, a huge thanks to Josh & the Hey! team for hosting tonights event!