Having studied at Loughborough for my undergraduate I was able to see exactly what the University offers and gauge how well I fitted into the University’s environment and systems. The Creative Arts department offers incredible facilities only to be seconded by the staff that work there. For me, the University had what I needed most; the time and space to hone my skills and the support and encouragement to help guide my way in doing so.
Teaching, and especially supervision in MA courses, is key in bridging the undergraduate experience with becoming an independent researcher and meeting professional standards in workflow and outcome. The structure of the course and intended learning outcomes reflect the importance of these preparations and are orientated to strengthen and assess research related activities, and the professionalism of art and graphic based artefacts. Without this course, the levels of confidence, independence and self-reliance demanded by the PhD could have come as an overwhelming and destabilising shock.
The course was instrumental in sharpening social, hard, and soft skills. It can be frustrating seeking a greater level of skill yet struggling to see it manifest. I was reminded that patience is the sustaining force, not only to continuously seek improvement, but accept its evidence is often deferred.