Principal Lecturer in Creative Industries

My professional practice in the creative sector underpins my academic leadership, with a sharp focus on employability, curriculum innovation, and industry alignment. I am currently Portfolio Lead for the Undergraduate and Postgraduate provision in Arts and Creative Industries.

Qualifications

• Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Bedfordshire
• ILM Coaching and Mentoring
• Master of Arts, Graphic Design, Royal College of Art
• Bachelor of Arts, Graphic Design, Brighton University

Membership of Professional Bodies

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Council For Art and Design in Higher Education (CHEAD) representative.

Research Interests

• Embedding commercial enterprise, agency and internship models of work-related learning into the HE environment
• Graduate placement schemes
• Innovation Bridge projects for the University of Bedfordshire with local employers and companies

Pedagogic presentations

Cherry, V. (2020 March) ‘Playing at Design: Playful Exchange and Design Studio Culture in Art and Design Pedagogy’. Play with Purpose Art and Design Conference, University of Bedfordshire

Cherry, V. (2019 December) ‘Professional development, widening participation and studio learning: students and graduates explore the impact and effect of Graduate Studio Assistants in a School of Art and Design’. Group for Learning in Art and Design (GLAD) 22nd Annual Conference, Art and Design Education: Where do we go from here? Manchester Metropolitan University

Cherry, V. (2017 June) ‘Integrating working and learning: How Guildford Street Press is addressing the changing needs of art and design employability skills.’  University of Bedfordshire’s Annual Staff Conference.

Cherry, V., Cruz, J., Gannon, R. (2016 June) ‘The Digital Artefact.’ Workshop, University of Bedfordshire’s Annual Staff Conference

External Roles

• External Examiner including for University of Derby and Pearl Academy, India (validated by NTU)
• External Panel Member, course approvals, including for University of Northampton
• Visiting Lecturer, including at University of Derby and University for the Creative Arts
• Link Tutor, Marbella Design Academy, Spain

Previous Roles

• Acting Head of School
• Senior Lecturer, Graphic Design
• Course leader, BA (Hons) Advertising and Branding Design
• Course Leader, MA Art and Design
• Senior Designer in the Design and Advertising sector

Contact Details

Viv.cherry@beds.ac.uk

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