FdA Photography
01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030
| Course Leader | Jessica Emanuel |
|---|---|
| Course Team | |
| Awarding Body | University of South Wales |
| Teaching Institutions | University of South Wales |
| Modes of Study | Full Time, Part Time |
Document Version
| Version | 3 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2024 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2030 |
QAA Benchmarks
Educational Aim
The main aims of the course are:
To provide a distinctive and contemporary programme of study, that provides a learning environment where students with differing profiles and aspirations can realise their creative, academic, and professional potential.
To produce graduates equipped with a range of technical, intellectual, creative, and professional skills appropriate for the requirements of the photo-imaging sector, which allows them to shape their futures and make a significant and positive impact in the creative industries.
To provide opportunities for professional engagement and work-based learning through effective industry links and collaborative partnerships, providing students with specialist knowledge and skills, and opportunities to pursue their career ambitions in a range of commercial contexts.
To enable students to acquire a broad range of entrepreneurial abilities in marketing, self-promotion and business development that will allow them to foster independence and practical skills which will prepare students to enter the photographic industry and to support continuing personal development.
To enable students to acquire core skills, professional attitudes, resilience, and behaviours that allow them to confidently apply their learning in different situations, both within the field of photographic practice and within wider creative, professional, and collaborative contexts.
To provide an academically rigorous programme of study that develops student understanding of student practice, enabling them to locate and articulate their photography within theoretical discourse and contemporary commercial practice.
To underpin an understanding of the industry through knowledge of historical, social, ethical, and cultural contexts, developing students’ academic and research skills to help them prepare for professional practice and/or progression to postgraduate study.
Learning Outcomes
| A1 | Articulate knowledge, skills and understanding in effective ways in the context of creative photographic practice, work-based learning, employment, further study, research, and self-fulfilment. |
| A2 | Define the historical evolution of genres, aesthetic traditions, and forms within contemporary photography, and of current characteristics and possible future developments. |
| A3 | Identify professional and technical issues which realise, develop or challenge existing practices and traditions, and the possibilities and constraints of materials involved in the production process. |
| A4 | Independently select relevant conventions to convey visual, audio and verbal meaning to communicate effectively and formulate solutions. |
| B1 | Analyse their own creative practice and processes through engagement with photography in all its forms and explain reasoning and context behind work produced. |
| B2 | Construct their own work in a reflexive manner, generate ideas and concepts with reference to academic and/or professional issues, debates, and conventions. |
| B3 | Employ various forms of research for photographic practice, history and critical studies relating to photography and the wider photographic context involving sustained independent enquiry. |
| B4 | Illustrate an understanding of their own intellectual and technical capabilities through engagement in photographic practice, cultural and critical debate. |
| C1 | Manage their time, be self-motivated, show personal initiative, illustrate organisational skills, demonstrate effective planning techniques and strategies. |
| C2 | Practice the ability to negotiate, work with others, communicate, take responsibility, comply with regulations, and undertake group membership skills. |
| C3 | Combine detailed knowledge and experience of complex processes, the nature and behaviour of materials, media and changing technologies, the organisation and planning of events, processes, and use of resources. |
| C4 | Develop the skills, knowledge and understanding required to be resourceful, employable, ethical, and entrepreneurial within the creative and cultural industries. |
Course Structure
Level 4 Modules
| Module Code | Module Id | Module Title | Module Status | Credit Value | Module Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FH1S54 | MOD012644 | Is It Real? | Running | 20 | specified |
| FH1S56 | MOD012646 | Fake Views | Running | 20 | specified |
| FH1S58 | MOD012648 | Who We Are | Running | 20 | specified |
| FH1S57 | MOD012647 | What Do We Remember? | Running | 20 | specified |
| FH1S55 | MOD012645 | How We Tell Stories | Running | 20 | specified |
| FH1S59 | MOD012649 | Can We Create Change? | Running | 20 | specified |
Level 5 Modules
Teaching and Assessment
Learning and Teaching Methods
N/A
Employer Engagement
Visiting Speakers
Visiting speakers are spread throughout the two-year programme, covering a range of genres, including film industry, business and career, documentary, fine art, portrait, landscape, studio photography and more. Speakers are relevant to the modules being covered on the course and include specialists from industry. Alumni are also invited to speak as part of employability events.
The BA (Hons) Photography have a guest speaker programme which is held at the Cardiff Campus, access to these events is also made available to FD students.
Industry Projects
We work with a wide range of established businesses on projects briefs, working to industry requirements to ensure that students gain the relevant experience to prepare them for the world of work.
Industry Visits
The course has well established links with reputable companies offering opportunities to work on location and visits within industry.
Volunteering
Volunteering is an opportunity for students to improve their chances of prospective employment and an important way of gaining skills required for a future career. Students will be expected to reflect on their choice of an appropriate volunteering placement within the creative industries in the first instance. An application or meeting with a prospective employer would then be arranged with relevant health and safety and/or DBS checks if needed.
Fieldwork
For specific modules students create work on location in response to environments or commercial developments. Location photography, observation work and study outside the classroom/studio set up is encouraged, specifically within modules such as Practical Placement.
Fieldtrips
There are several opportunities for students to complete field trips within year 1 and year 2 of the programme. These field trips are usually across South Wales and England. Excursions and fieldtrip to museums, collections, galleries, exhibitions, events, talks and conferences are encouraged each year.
Work Placements or Internships
Year 2 of the programme offers a variety of opportunities for work placements, working alongside established companies arranged by the course leader. These placements provide students with excellent opportunities to build on their CV’s and experience.
Work-based Learning
Within Year 2 of the programme, 60 credits will cover relevant placement and work-related experience within the creative industries, which is a requirement for all Foundation Degrees.
Sandwich Years
n/a
Employer Forums
n/a
Other
The University of South Wales has a visiting lecturer programme in which the Coleg y Cymoedd students are invited. Library facilities resources are available across both campuses for student access. Live project briefs are delivered each year, with the appropriate levels of support and progression at each stage. We work with several external clients which is important to the course and ensures that students have real world experience of practice within the creative industries.
Means of Assessment
Essay, Oral Assessment, Research proposal, project output,
Learning Support
Induction
Induction includes a 6-week immersive learning period which involves an element of summative assessment so that students receive early feedback on their learning.
During induction at Coleg y Cymoedd, students are given information on the LC, well-being, health and safety and there is an induction into specialist areas such as the darkroom and studio. During induction at USW, students visit the Cardiff Campus, are introduced to the link officer and photography specialist staff on the BA (Hons) Photography, given a tour of the facilities and student union and given an LC induction where they receive a library card.
All students will be given a full induction at both institutions within the first few weeks of the course, enabling them to adjust to university life, get to know the teaching team, their peers, plan their studies and understand how the university works. The induction includes, a full explanation of teaching timetables, overview of the course handbook and student charter along with team building activities and networking events helping foster a sense of community between all photography students, year groups and other creative higher education courses taught at the college.
Personal Academic Coach1
Staff provide one to one academic support to all students through a series of rich conversations which discuss their overall academic and professional progress on their course.
Specialist support for students with additional learning needs is identified at the beginning of the course to ensure that additional support is in place. Students can apply for DSA when applying for student finance each year and following an assessment can be offered many tools, including additional personal academic coaching to support their studies.
Learner Analytics
Dashboard is a collaborative management system which allow staff direct access to be able to monitor applications, enrolment, retention, attainment student outcomes, leaving destination information and more.
Office hours
The course team will all have a set amount of office hours, students will be notified when and where lecturers are available for drop-in sessions to discuss course work or any other issues.
The course team (including technician) are available throughout the week during standard office hours, either in the studios or in their office, in case of any enquiries or emergencies.
Tutorials
Tutorials take the form of a one-to-one or group discussion to discuss progress on a module and/or any other course concerns students may be having. By nature, photography is a practice-based discipline, and the emphasis will be on the practical application of skills learnt so contact time needs to be flexible. Modules may also be delivered in different ways depending on the module and the skills required, so tutorials may take the form of in class demonstrations, informal advice, or supervised time in studios.
Seminars
A seminar is normally a group discussion with a tutor in which a small number of students where they can discuss their progress together. This is beneficial as students get an opportunity to see their peers progress, helping build their confidence by providing constructive and critical analysis of work and support to others. This format of learning is well suited to both practical and the theoretical based modules within the course.
Formative Assessment
The nature of photographic practice-based work means that students will regularly receive formative feedback on their work in a less formal way – during seminars and class presentations or group work. More formal examples of formative assessment and feed-forward would be, written feedback given after a one-to-one tutorial, feedback on work sent via email, immediate feedback during pitches and regular progress meetings.
Progress meetings
Progress meetings are facilitated by the module’s teaching team and cover aspects such as scheduling, technical trouble shooting, advice on progress, and critique.
Research Supervision
For modules such as Practical Placement, Career Confidence and Cumulative Project, where students are expected to be working more independently, they will be allocated a supervisor who will guide them throughout their research. Students and staff will keep in touch using a variety of methods including email, studio practice, location practice and regular supervision meetings. Staff will offer ‘office hours’ for drop-in discussions and will schedule meetings with students.
Online Resources
The College uses SharePoint and Microsoft Teams as the online learning environments in which all student resources are stored.
SharePoint is a central hub for students to access college wide resources such as: campus information, information on sustainability, equality, diversity, inclusion, health and safety, finance, Welsh language, wellbeing, support, safeguarding and prevent, digital services, learning centre information, futures, and IT services.
Microsoft Teams is more central to student learning, in which they can access course specific information. This includes, course organisation, year planners, module briefs, module timetables, assessment information, module handouts, videos, and allows students to share photographic work and ideas. Staff are also able to communicate information easily and clearly to all students at once on upcoming exhibitions and important information which needs to be distributed quickly and efficiently to all students on each year group. This supports the students learning as set out in the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Minimum Requirements Policy.
As well as the course VLE (virtual learning environment) the course team uses a variety of methods to provide and links to online resources including articles, course blogs, Instagram feed.
Learning Analytics can be used to enable tracking of students’ progress and engagement.
Students are encouraged to develop their own online professional presence and to share useful resources and inspiration with others. Professional collaboration tools such as: Google Drive are used to support team working and project management when working with live briefs.
Advice Zone
Advice Zones are the first point of contact for advice and information regarding university life. Advice Assistants offer confidential, impartial guidance and advice on a range of issues including extenuating circumstances. Advice Assistants are also able to answer and advise on queries, questions, or concerns regarding booking appointments with specialist teams such as Counselling, Disability and Dyslexia, Money Advice and Progression Advice.
Disability
The Disability Service provides information, advice, and guidance to and co-ordinates support for students who have disabilities, including physical, sensory, mental health or unseen disabilities, specific learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia) and autism. A confidential service where students can discuss their individual requirements. DDS can advise on what support is available and help students apply for it.
The Disability Service also has a key role in ensuring the University meets its commitment to providing an inclusive environment for disabled students. See our Policies and Equality Scheme.
Students can apply for DSA when applying for student finance each year and following an assessment may be offered many tools to support their studies.
IT/Library
Students who study at Coleg y Cymoedd will have access to the University of South Wales facilities, including the library and student union. The University library services provide students with a wide range of high-quality library and information services to academics and researchers. The library has a large photography collection ranging from the beginnings of photography to contemporary practice and journals and resources to support student skill development, both physical and online.
Digital fluency within the academic discipline is fully embedded throughout the course. IT and media resources are a common thread behind many of the activities which help to enhance students’ learning experience, such as their online student account (giving access to email, printing, payments and more), SharePoint and Microsoft Teams (the online learning environment), open access to computers on each campus, printing services, and media equipment.
Coleg y Cymoedd has a strong commitment to providing technology-based learning environments to support students. Laptop loans are available via request for students who need them. Whether studying on campus, at home or elsewhere, students have access to their course materials anytime and anywhere. This is secure and safe through a two-factor authentication system.
Students can get support from Coleg y Cymoedd library staff who offer advice on finding resources for their course. The library contains a wide range of books including copies of every set or recommended text for each of their modules. Students also have access to journals related to the discipline so that they can keep up to date with the latest thinking and developments within the field. There is also a periodicals collection with newspapers and magazines. Many of these resources are also available digitally.
Course Exit Points
| Award | Criteria | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Degree in Arts | 240 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 5 or above, 100 at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 at Level 3. Of the 240 credits, at least 40 credits must be derived from Level 5 work based learning | Final |
| Certificate of Higher Education | 120 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 at Level 3 | Exit |
Progression Route
Upon successful completion of the course, students may choose to progress (subject to course-specific requirements) to the final year of BA (Hons) Photography or job role within the Creative Industries at the University of South Wales, or any similar course with an alternative provider.
Entry Requirements
Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:
Students will require 48 UCAS points, this is the equivalent of 2 A Levels (at Grade D or above) or a relevant BTEC Level 3 qualification with a Merit/Pass, a Level 3 Diploma or a Pass/Pass/Pass, Level 3 Extended Diploma, or relevant industry experience for mature learners.
Applicants with substantial and appropriate relevant experience in employment may be accepted; this will be subject to interview.
Entry to the third year BA (Hons) Top-up, delivered at University of South Wales will be on successful completion of the Foundation Degree.
Inclusive Curriculum Statement
The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/
Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution
N/A
Methods Of Quality Standards
N/A
Quality Of Standards Indicators
N/A