Scotland’s next generation of music professionals are set to benefit from a new partnership between the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA).

Students on UWS’s BA (Hons) Commercial Music and MA Music programmes will gain access to a range of new opportunities through the three-year agreement, which will run until 2028. The partnership aims to help students develop the skills, experience and connections needed to succeed in the modern music industry, while also supporting growth, innovation and sustainability across Scotland’s wider music sector.

Students will have the chance to shadow SMIA team members, get hands-on work experience, receive guest lectures delivered by SMIA staff and free membership of the Association. The partnership also means that UWS’s music courses will continue to reflect what’s happening in the industry, keeping teaching up-to-date.

For Dr Clare Duffin, Lecturer and Programme Leader for MA Music at UWS, the new partnership represents a connection between education and the professional world of music:

 

This partnership is such a positive move for our students and for Scotland’s wider music scene. Working alongside the SMIA allows us to make sure our courses are as connected to industry as possible so students graduate ready to step straight into professional life. It’s about giving them real experiences, and a sense of how their creative skills can make a difference. I’m really excited to see where we go next.

Dr Clare Duffin, Lecturer and Programme Leader for MA Music

 

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association, sees the collaboration as a way to create opportunities that have long-term impact:

 

We’re really excited to be partnering with UWS which has long been a champion of creativity and innovation in music education. By working together, we can help strengthen the link between learning and industry, making sure the next generation of music professionals are ready to take Scottish music forward.

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association

 

Professor Ann Luce, Dean of the School of Business and Creative Industries at UWS, said: “This partnership shows how committed we are to giving our students the best possible start in their careers.

“By working together we’re creating more opportunities for students to learn directly from the people shaping Scotland’s music industry. It’s a great example of how higher education and industry can work together to create real impact.”

This partnership supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9).