Canadian University Dubai (CUD) has announced the launch of a new creative leadership degree program in partnership with the world-renowned Faculty of Communication and Design (FCAD) at Ryerson University, Canada.
The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries (BACI) is the first program of its kind in Dubai and is now open to applications from students aspiring to make their mark in the city’s thriving creative sector.
The unique four-year program, which is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, blends a variety of creative fields together in one degree, incorporating leadership for media business, fashion, interior design and communications. As part of the program, successful students have the opportunity to transfer to Ryerson to undertake their second and third years of study in Canada.
BACI has been created to help develop crucial leadership talent that will direct the future of this fast-growing industry in Dubai. Evidenced by last year’s announcement from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, signaling a new Creative Industries Contributions Index, the sector is presenting increasingly high-value business opportunities in the UAE, and offering outstanding career potential for professionals entering the industry in both creative and executive roles.
Representing a departure from the typical polarization between “suits” and “creatives” – between the practitioners and those who manage and commercialize the creative process – the program instead bridges this gap by enabling students to explore and understand the industry as both a creative process and a commercial activity. As part of the course, participants will have access to the University’s innovative learning incubator space, The Creative Zone.
The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum has been developed in close collaboration with faculty at Ryerson’s FCAD, which has been central to the evolution of Canada’s cultural industries for over 70 years. Speaking about the launch, Dean of FCAD, Charles Falzon, said, “Creativity, media and design are the languages of the 21st century and the jobs are plentiful and ever-evolving. This partnership is going to introduce a unique set of premium creative programs to the Dubai market.
“The Bachelor of Arts in Creative Industries focusses on leadership, management, development, and creative entrepreneurship, while also giving students the chance to get a taste of a couple of disciplines within the creative field, in a major way. This provides graduates with strong practical experience, which makes them very employable among both creative and other companies.”
With the growth of dedicated business spaces such as Dubai Design District and the Media, Studio, and Festival cities, the creative sector is now firmly established on Dubai’s economic landscapes. CUD’s BACI program will, for the first time, offer aspiring leaders in the field a dedicated academic program that will develop their skills to transform creative ideas into commercial products and services, and to drive even further growth in the sector across the UAE.
