How the Skillset Media Academies were selected

Skillset established the Skillset Media Academies in response to the television and interactive media industries' desire to develop lasting partnerships with further and higher education institutions.

Skillset Media Academies provide an answer to industry need for fresh talent and innovation, and set new standards in higher education for the design and delivery of practice-based courses.

The 23 Skillset Media Academies were selected through a rigorous application and evaluation processes. They were assessed by industry evaluators drawn from the education sector and the television, interactive media and post production industries. The original selection was overseen by a high level panel chaired by Greg Dyke.

The members of the Skillset Media Academy Approval Panel were
(all job titles as at 2007):

Greg Dyke (Chair), Skillset Patron

Andrew Chitty, Managing Director, Illumina Digital

Philip Clarke, Producer, Feel Good Fiction

Clive Jones, Chair of Skillset; Chairman, GMTV

Iona Jones, Chief Executive, S4C

Roger Laughton, Skillset Patron

Jane Lighting, Chief Executive, five

Frances Merrylees, Director of HR, Commercial, Learning and Development, ITV

Nicola Oates, Regional Consultant, HEFCE

Caroline Prendergast, Head of Training and Development, BBC

Mairead Regan, Group Human Resources Director, UTV

Simon Shaps, Director of Television, ITV

Martin Spence, Assistant General Secretary, BECTU

Jo Taylor, 4Talent Manager, Channel 4

Rama Thirunamachandran, Director - Research and Knowledge Transfer, HEFCE

Janey Walker, Head of Education/Managing Editor, Commissioning, Channel 4

Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports and Sky News

John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer, UK Film Council