Digital literacy Australian first - Swinburne becomes an Adobe Creative Campus

Swinburne has announced it will be the first university in Australia to achieve Adobe Creative Campus status, joining an exclusive group of approximately 20 universities and colleges across the United States and South Korea who share a commitment to ensuring their students have the digital literacy skills required in today’s digital world.

Swinburne’s approach to digital literacies ensures that students are provided with the awareness, abilities and confidence to use digital technologies to work with data and content, and to create, problem solve and communicate effectively. 

 “Being an Adobe Creative Campus will enable students to excel in digital literacy and enhance their employability with fundamental skills, essential for participation in the future of work,” says Swinburne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Duncan Bentley. 

Being a Creative Campus means that from late November 2019, all Swinburne students will have full access on all devices to Adobe Creative Cloud - a collection of the world’s best applications and services used for graphic design, video editing, web development and photography.

“Graduates and employees require digital skills to be productive in the workforce of the future and aligned to the growing digital economy and society. This partnership with Adobe supports Swinburne’s technological focus and commitment to preparing future-ready graduates. Adobe tools will support the transformation of Swinburne’s learning, teaching and assessment with more creative and engaging approaches,” says Professor Bentley. 

The Australian Industry Group’s Workforce Development Needs Survey Report has highlighted digital literacies as an essential foundational skill as businesses adapt to new technologies and digitally enabled environments.

“As businesses adapt to new digital technologies they are facing new demands on their workforce capabilities and cultures. The education sector must adapt quickly to the changing needs of the digital economy to ensure graduate employability and successful, future-focused businesses. The partnership between industry and education is more important than ever. Swinburne achieving Adobe Creative Campus status and its focus on digital literacies provides its students with a pathway to the skills they need for their careers and the graduates businesses need for their successful future,” says Australian Industry Group Chief Executive, Mr Innes Willox.

Digital literacy capabilities will be embedded within Swinburne courses, including innovations to learning activities and assessment tasks enabled through Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Visual, audio and animation skills will be developed to advance students’ creative and persuasive digital communications expertise.

“The Swinburne digital literacies program and the Adobe Creative Campus will support the transformation of learning and assessment through the use of innovative video, audio and digital presentation formats. This enriches our students’ academic experience and prepares them with digital skills and confidence for the future workforce,” says Associate Professor Sandra Luxton, whose students in Swinburne’s Faculty of Business and Law will use the Adobe Creative Cloud to enable innovations in assessment practices.

A Digital Literacies Hub will be constructed in the library precinct for staff and students to access one-on-one training in Adobe products from student digital coaches.

“Swinburne has a key focus on technology, innovation, digital literacy and the future of work with its expertise in the fourth industrial revolution and rapid technological change. This partnership with Adobe will enrich Swinburne’s digital offerings, ensuring students are job-ready and equipped for the workforce of the future,” says Professor Bentley.

Adobe is supporting the appointment of a professorial position to lead scholarship, research and innovation in digital literacies education, complementing other specialist centres at Swinburne including the Data for Social Good Cloud Innovation Centre and the Centre for the New Workforce.

“Adobe recognises the value of teaching digital literacy skills in higher education by preparing students for success in the classroom and in the modern economy,” says Managing Director of Adobe Australia and New Zealand, Ms Suzanne Steele.

”By collaborating with institutions around the world that align on similar student outcomes through Adobe Creative Campus, Swinburne serves as an example to other academic leaders that are looking to transform education and drive innovation.”

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