Program Overview

Introduction to Co Lab Program at Nottingham Trent University's School of Art & Design ## Co Lab is an innovative program designed to provide students with collaborative, work-like experiences alongside industry partners. This initiative aims to expand students' learning, equipping them with essential skills for the industry, including teamwork, collaborative practice, communication, leadership, and more. By participating in Co Lab, students engage in real-life, project-based learning that fosters creativity, practice, and professional development. The program is integrated throughout the curriculum, ensuring students are well-prepared to become stand-out professionals in their chosen field. ### What is Co Lab? Co Lab offers students the opportunity to collaborate with peers from different subject specialisms or with students from other universities worldwide on projects set by charities or industry partners. This collaborative environment encourages students to think beyond their core subject area, develop problem-solving skills, and become resilient in the face of challenges. The program recognizes the power of design to shape and change the world for the better, empowering future designers, artists, and business leaders to make a positive social and environmental impact. ## How is Co Lab Incorporated into the Curriculum? - In Year 1, students are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and collaborate to build relationships and networks. - In Year 2, Co Lab is an assessed 20-credit module tailored to the student's area of study, focusing on four pillars: Social Justice, Regeneration and Sustainability, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Community. - In Year 3, Co Lab becomes an innate way of working, with students naturally collaborating and challenging their practice. - At the postgraduate level, the Culture and Collaboration module explores themes of 'Cultural Emergency' in collaboration with students from other MA disciplines. ### The Four Pillars of Co Lab Each course devises collaborative projects aligning with one or more of the four pillars: #### Social Justice Collaborating as a force for good to address key economic, social, and cultural challenges. #### Regeneration and Sustainability Advocating change for environmental, social, and economic sustainability, and engineering creative opportunities for re-use and regeneration of resources. #### Innovation and Entrepreneurship Encouraging students to think differently, disrupt the landscape, and find solutions to significant global challenges. #### Community - Both Local and International Collaborating to share insights and deepen understanding of the world for the benefit of all its inhabitants. ## Student Experience "In my second year, as part of my course module, I did a group project for a client where we produced an animated short. Getting a taste of what it is like to work as part of a production team was a very valuable experience for me. Thanks to that, I feel more prepared to work in an actual animation studio." - Zita Mosolygo, BA (Hons) Animation