Shaping the Future: Collaboration Between Industry and Educators

DSA Studio
Jun 2
2 min read

Updated: Jun 2

Shaping the Future: Collaboration Between Industry and Educators

Our Managing Director, Ahren Morris at the University of Canterbury's inaugural Digital Screen Program Industry Advisory Board Meeting.

Learning has always been at the heart of Dreamscreen’s mission: whether students and graduates getting their first taste of a film studio, industry veterans exploring the world of virtual production, or artists pushing the limits of technology. In keeping with this mission I recently had the honor of representing Dreamscreen as part of the University of Canterbury (UC)’s inaugural Digital Screen Program Industry Advisory Board.

UC have curated a Board representing a deep cross-section of industry including creative rights management, Directors and Producers, VFX-post, gaming, television production, and with Dreamscreen technical services.

And it occurs to me that the challenges faced by educators are a microcosm of the challenges we face as an industry, and perhaps even society. We exist at a time in history where technological change is running rampant. Not only the way we do our jobs is changing, but what those jobs even are is up for consideration. While [in my opinion] the education sector may not be at the sharp edge of this axe, I do believe it represents the solid wedge that is coming in fast behind it.

Today’s students have grown up with iPads, hang out with friends in Fortnight, and many may not get what the big deal is with “ethically sourced” AI. It’s a generation that is going to face a lot of challenges. But before they get there they are going to first challenge their educators.

The role of the IAB was notionally around helping to get students workforce ready, but I felt we went deeper than that. None of us can afford to simply glance at a skills matrix and decide “Well, I want to see more of x” – those are lag indicators. Ask your HR Department how well that approach is working. The real question is how do we prepare our youth and ourselves for a future that is evolving before our eyes.

I have always believed that empowering education is the key to triumphing over a significant percentage of life’s challenges. It is why Dreamscreen will always find room for schools and universities in our company calendar. And it’s why joining UC is a key step on that journey.

(image courtesy of the University of Canterbury)