Audio drama, fictional films and other productions to be exhibited to the public, pitching of ideas for changing organisational environments before a professional panel, and a course in gaming and design concluding with an open exam at Dokk1, the large new Library and Citizens’ Services on the harbour front in Aarhus.

These are just some of the challenges lined up for students on six new courses in culture production which will be offered by ‘2017 Academy Summer Schools’ – a new joint initiative by Aarhus University and VIA University College to mark Aarhus as European Capital of Culture 2017.

The courses equate to between 5 and 10 ECTS credits and are offered via AU Summer University. Bente Larsen, project manager of Aarhus University’s 2017 Academy activities and herself a lecturer on one of the courses, describes the courses as practice-based.

“The courses offered as part of the 2017 Academy Summer Schools initiative are all emulated on the ways of working which the students are likely to encounter in their professional careers. Having to pitch an idea before a professional panel, the students strengthen their ability to receive criticism in a productive manner. At the same time, working with students from other degree programmes and disciplines, they will get a better idea of their own core competences and teamworking abilities,” says Bente Larsen. She stresses that the courses are not less theoretical than other courses; the students are simply motivated to seek knowledge through practice-based activities.

VIA University College will be offering three other courses based on the same learning concept, and it will be possible for VIA students and AU students to apply for courses at both institutions. 

International attention

In a broader perspective, the aim of 2017 Academy Summer Schools is, among other things, to develop new forms of instruction which can be used to educate the strong creative minds of the future and boost the creative industry – both in the region and internationally.

Rikke Nielsen, director of the International Office at Aarhus University, sees the 2017 Academy Summer Schools initiative as a potentially effective lever for attracting more international students.

“Coinciding with European Capital of Culture 2017 and integrating such an internationally recognised phenomenon into the programmes, the courses are clearly something exceptional which we can use in the marketing of our Summer University internationally,” says Rikke Nielsen.

Based on the experience gained this year, the ambition is to develop 2017 Academy Summer Schools to include a broader variety of culture-creative courses more directly associated with the 2017 activities next year, when Aarhus is the official European Capital of Culture.

FACTS

2017 Academy Summer Schools

Courses are offered at both Master’s and Bachelor’s degree level, and all the courses will be held in July or August 2016.

• For overview and updates, visit 2017 Academy Summer Schools’ homepage or follow them on Facebook
• You will also find the courses under Aarhus University’s Summer University programme at www.au.dk/en/summeruniversity/courses/
• Between two and four courses will be added by VIA University College in February. Keep an eye on http://www.via.dk/ or 2017 Academy Summer Schools’ Facebook page.

2017 Academy’s Student Task Force for Creativity (STAK) will be organising social activities and ensuring student interaction across the various course disciplines. 

VIA and AU working together

The 2017 Academy Summer Schools initiative is just one of many joint projects undertaken by AU and VIA to market the European Capital of Culture 2017. The umbrella term for the cooperation between the two institutions is ‘2017 Academy’ and is part of a strategic partnership with the European Capital of Culture 2017. 

The overall objective is to pave the way for rethinking the relationship between knowledge, art, culture and business, and to ensure a lasting impact from Aarhus 2017.

Read more at www.2017academy.dk.

For further information, please contact:

Bente Larsen, project manager for 2017 Academy, School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University. T: +45 3058 7822 or M: blarsen@dac.au.dk

Dorte Føns, project manager for Summer University, International Office, Aarhus University: T: +45 5133 5274 or M: dfs@au.dk