New Zealand on World Stage for Digital Design

Auckland’s Media Design School is set to help New Zealand make its mark on the world in digital design by joining the Laureate International Universities network.

The Laureate International Universities network is a trusted global leader in providing access to high-quality, innovative institutions of higher education throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Northern Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Laureate campus-based and online institutions offer more than 130 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programmes in fields including architecture, art, business, culinary arts, design, education, engineering, health sciences, hospitality management, information technology, law and medicine.

Media Design School was founded in 1998 and was one of New Zealand’s first private tertiary providers to offer world-class, innovative NZQA-approved qualifications in the digital creative sectors. Media Design School graduates have a long tradition of providing highly-skilled talent for the industry, including some of the very best film, visual effects and creative companies in the world. The school currently offers Diploma and Graduate Diploma courses in 3D Animation, Advanced 3D, Visual Effects, Graphic Design, Creative Advertising, Digital Media and Game Development.
Frances Valintine, CEO of Media Design School, says that it is a privilege for the school to be able to join one of the world’s leading international networks of higher education.

“The Laureate International Universities network offers Media Design School and New Zealand a chance to really shine on the world stage in terms of digital design and high-end digital content. LIU has a network of more than 55 campus-based and online institutions with more than 600,000 students from all over the world. Their students, and now ours, will be part of an international community that spans 27 countries.”

“Media Design School is one of New Zealand’s top and most-awarded schools for digital design. Our students will now have a golden opportunity to really be part of a diverse global family consisting of some of the world’s top design universities including Domus Academy and Nuovo Accademia di Belle Arti Milano in Milan, Italy, Santa Fe University of Art and Design and NewSchool of Architecture and Design in the U.S. and Universidad Europea de Madrid in Spain.”

Steve Jones, Operations Manager – Creative & Services for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise says that he wishes the school all the best with future plans as part of the global Laureate network.

“We have worked closely with Laureate over the past three years to identify international opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector Their decision to invest in Media Design School is significant for our animation, visual effects and game development sectors, because it will increase the number of local and international graduates entering the industry – and ultimately help it to grow. It is also important for our international education industry as Laureate’s global marketing operation will promote New Zealand as the place to study digital arts, in the same way that Switzerland is marketed as the ultimate place to study hotel management or Milan, fashion,” says Jones.

Valintine says that the school is looking forward to the future.

“We are in a very exciting phase of growth for Media Design School and part of our planning for the future is how to really showcase the emerging talent that we have here in New Zealand on a global scale. New Zealand already has some of the world’s best visual effects and film production facilities and game development studios.”

“Media Design School will continue to ensure that New Zealand is known for digital design graduates who have the reputation of being industry movers and shakers. As part of Laureate’s global education group, this allows us to continue to do what we have always done – provide world class education, but we can now also offer students new opportunities to expand and grow beyond their wildest dreams,” says Valintine.

ENDS

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