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LSE and OakNorth launch ‘Mentorpreneurship’ programme

Posted on by London School of Economics and Political Science

The London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE) has launched its ‘Mentorpreneurship’ programme in partnership with OakNorth, which is on a mission to empower the “Missing Middle”. The programme, which is the first university run initiative of its kind, has been designed to support the development of socially conscious startups and inspire entrepreneurial thinking, by focusing on the fundamental role of mentorship in business.

To achieve this, the new programme, which is run through the university’s entrepreneurship department, LSE Generate, will engage past, current and future student entrepreneurs, including OakNorth co-founders, Rishi Khosla and Joel Perlman, in a ‘life-cycle’ of mentorship, helping to develop their businesses and creative ideas. As well as supporting student startups, the programme has launched a first-of-its-kind ‘Mentorpreneurship’ course for school children, piloting in partnership with Girls Day School Trust (GDST) across 11 institutions and commencing this September. As part of this, students will complete various modules, bootcamps and creative exercises that demonstrate the value of social sciences, arts and humanities in encouraging collaboration in order to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges.

To ensure everyone taking part in the programme can connect, collaborate, and receive as much support as possible, a central ‘Mentorpreneurship’ hub and app – which is available on the App Store and Google Play – have been created in partnership with the private network software provider getTWOit. The online platform will facilitate mentoring across the participating groups: school students will be mentored by LSE students, early-stage entrepreneurs can receive support from alumni entrepreneurs who will have access to senior innovators, who will in turn be ‘reverse mentored’ by school students. This ‘life-cycle’ model challenges traditional methods of mentoring by introducing reverse mentoring and peer-to-peer collaboration to question biases and encourage innovation. The platform and app have been designed to facilitate interactions on users’ own terms in safe-environments that oscillate between the local and global to reflect the needs of entrepreneurs at every stage in their journey.

With the overarching ambition of encouraging entrepreneurship as a meaningful path to drive local change and create enduring communities of impact, each year LSE Generate will also be hosting a tailored programme of online and offline activity. This includes: mentor bootcamps, founders retreats, keynotes and pitching practices, alongside a series of podcasts and audiobooks to connect entrepreneurs with mentors locally and internationally. With several international entrepreneurship chapters across the world including Mumbai, Chengdu, LA and Lisbon, with Ghana, Berlin and Shanghai on the horizon, the programme aims to create an ongoing global community of support for socially conscious entrepreneurs.

Laura-Jane Silverman, Head of LSE Generate, said: “The pandemic has been a hugely challenging time for startup businesses but it has also presented opportunities to think about the type of innovation and support needed in order to make a real difference in society. The launch of this programme comes at a time when the need for human-to-human collaboration and mentorship is fundamental, to not only navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, but in creating real change for the future. We believe that entrepreneurship should be the great equaliser; no matter what challenges the world presents, or where you are based, with the right support, access and materials, an inclusive startup culture that benefits a global community can flourish.”

The partnership is also part of OakNorth’s ongoing commitment to donate 1% of Group profits to supporting charitable causes and socially driven enterprises.

Speaking on the importance of university-born businesses and this collaboration, Rishi Khosla, co-founder of OakNorth and an LSE alumni, said: “LSE has played a hugely important role in the entrepreneurial journey of OakNorth, as that’s where my co-founder, Joel Perlman, and I met while studying. Having mentors and being a mentor to others has been invaluable to us, and what particularly excited us about LSE Generate is its focus on socially minded enterprise. We want to inspire students and alumni to start and scale businesses that have a positive impact on society, and to equip them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to mentor future generations of entrepreneurs who will do the same.”

LCCM hosts UK Music’s first stand-alone OMG Awards

Posted on by Global University Systems

London’s premier contemporary music college LCCM hosted the inaugural UK Music OMG awards at its Music Box venue London, SE1 last week, recognising Outstanding Music Graduates.

UK Music, the official trade body for the British Music Industry, and invited guests from affiliated higher education providers (UK Music’s MAP network) gathered at the Music Box to toast the achievements of recent graduates and their nascent careers within the music industry. The overall winner, judged by UK Music’s Skills Programme Board, was Rebecca Rees a 2021 graduate from University of Gloucestershire who now works at Polydor Records.

The MAP network is a collaboration between educational institutions and the music industry members of UK Music, focused on linking industry and academia more effectively. Outstanding music graduates from the network have been recognised annually since 2016 (except in 2020 due to covid) but this year’s event at the Music Box was the first time UK Music have announced the winners at a stand-alone ceremony. The winner, two runners-up and two commendations were announced on the night by UK Music’s Director of Education Oliver Morris and Nina Radojewski, head of Professional Development at indie record label trade body the Association of Independent Music (AIM).

Drinks and nibbles were enjoyed by music industry guests as well as the nominees and their academic mentors. LCCM had two nominees in Rosie Reeves, 2018 graduate and analyst at Warner Chappell Publishing and Gabriel Robles Saenz who graduated in 2020 and has enjoyed music success on Spotify with his band The Good Manners and works at LCCM as a technician.

“I loved my time at LCCM and I absolutely couldn’t do my job now without the analytics module I studied in my final year,” said Rosie. “I was thrilled to be nominated as an outstanding music graduate.”

Elsewhere, Gabriel said: “I was gutted to miss the awards ceremony as I’m back home visiting family in Guatemala. I feel like I’m really missing out.”

Other universities there on the night included LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Art), Southampton Solent, University of Hertfordshire, Birmingham City University, Leeds Beckett and University of Liverpool.

In his welcome speech LCCM Principal Anthony Hamer-Hodges remarked: “Music educators are like good record label A&Rs or Artist Managers, driven by the same urge – to find, inspire and champion great talent in all its forms. Celebrations like this make it all worthwhile when that talent and, by extension, those that have inspired them, are recognised. Congratulations to you all.”

UK Music is the collective voice of the UK’s world-leading music industry, representing all sectors of the industry and bringing them together to collaborate, campaign, and champion music. Its mission focuses on a range of areas including guiding policy makers, publishing research and being an advocate for copyright and related rights which underpin music.

Last month, LCCM announced Kofi Otuo, a first year BMUS Commercial Music Technology Student, as the winner of its full scholarship competition for 2021.

Kofi auditioned for the scholarship at a multidisciplinary live event at the college’s state-of-the-art Music Box venue in front of an audience, and the judging panel – the singer-songwriter Carmody and LCCM academics Austin Milne and Pat Cotton.

LCCM launches first Scholarship Day

Posted on by Global University Systems

London music college( LCCM) has launched its inaugural Scholarship Day. Open to any applicants and split into a range of disciplines, the prize consists of a full fee bursary for the duration of the winner’s chosen course.

Applicants will audition on 25 September at LCCM’s iconic Music Box venue at 41 Union St, London, in one of three disciplines: performance, production and music business at undergraduate or postgraduate level. In the audition, candidates will demonstrate their talent, ideas or passion projects to convince the panel why they will make the biggest impact on the industry in the years ahead and deserve the free place to further those ambitions. The three finalists will then go to the grand final in the second week of term, overseen by a panel of music industry professionals and experts.

“We’re really excited to welcome talented individuals to the Music Box to impress us with their skills and musicianship,” says Pat Cotton, programme leader for undergraduate music. “Making a scholarship available on merit is such a fantastic opportunity and will really help the college support the development of more young musicians.”

The Scholarship Day follows on from LCCM’s successful Music Industry Insiders Day in August and will be another celebratory ‘open-door’ style afternoon, with tours of the building, a welcome talk from principal Anthony Hamer-Hodges, student performances and careers advice.

“We’re really thankful to senior leadership and the LCCM board for backing our vision and drive to get more talented young people to the Music Box and ultimately, to make them into true LCCMers,” says Evie Asio-Okwalinga, Youth Music Officer at LCCM. “It marks a real line in the sand and proves our mission to create an achievable pathway to sustained career success, and it will be a real hit with our Youth Music network.”

In the evening, the JMNI Jam night will return. Open to all, even if you’re not auditioning for a scholarship, you’re welcome to come along to the Music Box, join in and get up on stage with some of London’s best musicians for a jam.

LCCM, the London music college has again ranked top for overall student satisfaction amongst contemporary music institutions teaching music performance and music business in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2021.

London Academy of Trading launches LAT Xchange, a New Trading Forum and Community

Posted on by Global University Systems

The London Academy of Trading (LAT), the UK’s first accredited trading academy, has launched its LAT Xchange, a new global trading forum and community.

Exclusively for LAT students and alumni, the new forum provides an online platform, enabling them to interact with one another in real-time, as well as with LAT’s tutors and traders. Students and alumni are able to share ideas and trade set-ups while staying up to date on the latest news and analysis in the company of fellow traders.

Allowing 24 hours a day interaction, the platform also helps alleviate the feelings of isolation and stress when trading at home alone.

Invitations were sent out to an initial cohort of 250 students and alumni at the end of last month and more than 60% signed up to the platform within the first week.

“This is a new and very exciting development,” says Paddy Osborn, Academic Dean and Managing Director of LAT.

“The response from students has been fantastic and these forums are providing a perfect platform for students to accelerate their learning and for alumni to stay in touch with us as they develop their trading careers.”

Going forward, LAT is looking to increase the number of features and functions of the platform over the coming months, as well as making the service available to an increasing number of students and alumni.

Interactive Pro and Brunel University London launch new online public health postgraduate programmes

Posted on by Global University Systems

Online ed-tech provider Interactive Pro and Brunel University London announced today the launch of three new postgraduate online programmes in public health.   

Interactive Pro has been working with Brunel for several years as part of the university’s mission to expand online learning to provide more flexibility to its students. Since then, the platform has launched several online degrees while being responsible for their global marketing, student recruitment, digitisation and teaching. Interactive Pro has now recruited more than 1,000 students globally, with half originating from countries and territories outside the UK.

The collaboration between the two education experts will see the launch of three new postgraduate online public health programmes, including a Master of Public Health (MPH) and two MSc in Public Health and Behaviour Change and Global Public Health and Social Justice. All three programmes are accessible both part-time and full time with three different starting dates options, and provide an in-depth understanding of health policies, sociological implications and global health concerns.

Students will be expected to develop a multidisciplinary industry-relevant skillset to navigate the complexity of the changing contemporary global public health environment and the range of stakeholders involved. The programmes aim to prepare students for diverse career opportunities across public health and social care, including chief medical officer, epidemiologist and environmental scientist positions.

Commenting on the launch, Peter Reed, Managing Director at Interactive Pro, said: “We are very honored and happy to continue and increase our partnership with Brunel and adapt their academic offer to the current challenges. The pandemic showed us that distance learning can ensure the same great experience as in-person learning and it is Interactive Pro’s mission to make higher education more accessible to all students around the world.”

Dr Nana Anokye, Director of Division of Global Public Health at Brunel University London added: “This is an exciting time for Brunel. It is very important for us to make education more inclusive and extend our online offers across our different areas of expertise noting the contemporary challenges facing Global Public Health. The programmes provide multidisciplinary skills and promote active learning and a research-led approach to train future leaders in public health.”

LCCM opens its doors for a Music Industry Insiders Day

Posted on by Global University Systems

On 14 August 2021, London College of Creative Media is opening its doors to anybody who is thinking of a career in the industry.

The ‘Music Industry Insiders Day’ event will be hosted at LCCM’s iconic Music Box campus, where potential students can attend one of the college’s ‘Box Talks’ events with DJ Semtex – DJ, presenter, A&R and the host of ‘Hip Hop Raised Me’ podcast.

People thinking of a career in the music industry will have the opportunity to experience industry-relevant masterclasses, taster workshops in performance, song writing, music production and music business as well as receiving advice from key trade organisations including Ivors Academy, Incorporated Society of Musicians and the Music Publishers Association.

“Our Music Industry Insiders Day is perfect for those avid musicians and entrepreneurs of tomorrow who want to make their mark on the music business, whether it’s as a performer, songwriter, producer, executive or anything in between,” says JD Donovan, LCCM’s Industry Liaison. “Not only will the day be informative with workshops and tours of our state-of-the-art studios, but also fun as we welcome back people to the Music Box after 18 months!”

Attendees will meet leading LCCM staff and tutors, as well as current students and alumni, and watch the first year’s Music Business Management and Music Performance students’ joint event, ‘LCCM Worldvision,’’ which celebrates the college’s performers from around the world.

Registration and tours will start at noon with a welcome talk and then a student performance at 12.30 pm. At 1 pm, potential students can take part in a songwriting workshop or Music Business Management taster session before a Performance workshop at 2 pm. The ‘LCCM Worldvision’ performances (Level 4 student project) or Music Production drop-in session will be at 3 pm, followed by the Production workshop at 4 pm and the Box Talk with DJ Semtex at 5 pm.

Throughout the day, where COVID-19 guidelines will be in place, admissions advisers and current students will be on hand to answer questions and there will be all-day access to stalls from LCCM’s music industry partners. In addition, there will be an open-door policy in certain rooms in the Music Box and free soft drinks and snacks from the Venue Bar.

LCCM remains top UK contemporary music school for Student Satisfaction in NSS 2021

Posted on by Global University Systems

London College of Creative Media (LCCM) has again ranked top by overall student satisfaction amongst contemporary music institutions teaching music performance and music business in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2021.

In a year where COVID-19 has had a significant impact on student experience and satisfaction, LCCM scored above the sector benchmark, and its direct competitors, on overall satisfaction. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, LCCM students felt they had received useful information about challenges to my course from my university or college during the Covid-19 pandemic (85.7% vs 73% sector benchmark).

Elsewhere, the college recorded year-on-year improvement and above benchmark results in listening to the Student Voice (73.43%) and Assessment & Feedback (80.50%)
categories.

 Anthony Hamer-Hodges, Principal at LCCM, says: “Undoubtedly it has been a testing and
difficult time for third years, particularly on practical subjects like music. We did everything in our power to support our students in the last 18 months. This is reflected in the NSS results, with excellent feedback on teaching & assessment keeping us as sector leaders for a third year running with our overall Student Satisfaction score holding up well at 76.47.”

LCCM went above and beyond to support its students’ learning in a variety of ways during the pandemic including shipping drum kits, microphones and other equipment across London to students’ flats for assessments, innovating online teaching methods and re-opening for practical teaching as soon as permitted under government guidelines.

Elsewhere, students felt that their feedback on the course had been acted on, moving from just over 70% in 2000 to more than 82% in 2021, while they have said that they have received helpful comments on their work (85.29%).

The college is known for its expert tutors, which is reflected in the students’ comments, saying that staff are good at explaining things (91.18%) and made the subject interesting (85.29%). The practical nature of the courses is also reflected by students stating that my
course has provided me with opportunities to apply what I have learnt (88.24%).

Every year, the National Student Survey provides colleges, universities and other institutions with the opportunity to receive feedback from their students on key aspects of the learning experience.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students (OfS) and is carried out by the OfS on
behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies. NSS 2021 collected responses from
more than 332,500 students from 397 higher education institutions in England,
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

LCCM’s Youth Music Officer and Women in Music Initiative Leader releases her second single “Available”

Posted on by Global University Systems

London College of Contemporary Media (LCCM)’s Youth Music Officer, Evie Asio has released
her second single “Available”. An alternative soul track, it was named as Jazz FM’s Late Night Track of the Week on the influential Late Night China Moses show.

With international play on MFM Radio with her first single Pendulum in 2020, Evie’s return sees an alternative-soul track that looks to guide the listener through her own personal struggles with social injustice, all from a second-person perspective.

Self-produced, between her grassroots church studio and home, “Available” gives a nod towards several of her musical influences, including NAO, Hiatus Kaiyote and Jacob Collier. The composition plays with the ideas of contrast, balancing classic 80s snares against punchy guitar riffs and soaring string lines, which tie in with the main theme of the lyrics, that commonality can be found in the most seemingly different things.

“The subject is very different to every other song I’ve written,” says Evie. “It was a poet at an open mic that made me want to reflect on my own feelings about social injustice; however, I love how the song also tells a wider story about the difficulties of reflecting on our own shortcomings.”

As a singer-songwriter and producer from South East London, Evie works as the LCCM Youth Music Officer, providing opportunities for young musicians to connect to LCCM and enhance their music career opportunities. She also leads the LCCM Women in Music initiative, which seeks to challenge and remove barriers for women within the LCCM community and beyond.

“Available” is the second single from Evie’s upcoming debut album, Contending and Contention.