Bath Spa University has become one of the first in the UK to benefit from a link-up with US software giant Adobe which will boost its students’ digital capability and better prepare them for the modern workplace.
Under the partnership, only the third between Adobe and a British university, Bath Spa students get free access to the firm’s entire suite of its Creative Cloud software.
University staff are also benefitting as they are able to access industry-leading graphic design, video editing, web development and photography software, including the popular Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Illustrator, together with access to Adobe Stock’s millions of royalty-free images.
The partnership will help ensure digital skills are integrated into the university’s curriculum as the software can be used for tasks ranging from posters, presentations and infographics to social media content and editing short videos.
Bath Spa University vice-chancellor Prof Sue Rigby, said: “This is an exciting development that is part of Bath Spa’s Strategy for Digital Transformation.
“It is also a significant step forward in our commitment to developing digital skills and embedding fluency of the industry-standard suite of applications for both students and staff to achieve relevant and marketable skills.”
The university’s director of IT services Rachael Johnson said as an Adobe Creative Campus, Bath Spa was part of a select group of colleges and universities that were driving the future of digital literacy within the global higher education community.
“This partnership offers ubiquity of access to industry-standard tools to achieve important tasks, as well as a rich set of free-to-use teaching resources and activities for academics to embed in their curriculum,” she added.
“In addition to making industry-leading Adobe Creative Cloud tools and services available to our students and staff, we will collaborate with other Adobe Creative Campuses, so that we can continue to share ideas and innovations that expand digital literacy and help ensure the success of our partnership.”
In October Adobe representatives hosted a ‘pop-up’ awareness activity on Bath Spa’s Newton Park Campus to help students design and print 240 tote bags by seamlessly accessing the Adobe Creative Cloud from their mobile devices.
The feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive. Similarly, an online launch event last month was well attended by university staff looking to learn more about the partnership and its advantages.
Adobe Education senior strategic development manager Mark Andrews said: “From partnering with their institutional leaders, it’s clear how our leading technology and creative campus approach aligns with Bath Spa’s mission of unleashing creativity across their curriculum.
“By equipping students with the digital literacy and creativity skills that are so vital to success, we are preparing their institution for a digital-first world.
“The partnership between Adobe and Bath Spa will provide its 7,000 students and its staff and with access to the best tools, deliver greater opportunities for collaboration, and empower the university to create an institution of innovation.”
The first UK University to become an Adobe Creative Campus was Teesside, followed by Southampton Solent.
