EDUCAT ION
It’s a jaw-dropping proposition, aimed at students with ‘an interest in the history of ideas’, as the course overview says, and bringing together topics and subjects as diverse as history, art history, philosophy, literature, film, evolutionary biology and psychology, as well as creative writing. Its scope is as ambitious – and enticing – as the subject range. Over three terms, the course covers everything from the ancient world’s perceptions of creativity to geniuses of the Renaissance, finishing with the democratisation of creativity. Given the growing importance of creativity in every industry for solving problems and coming up with new ways of doing things, its potential appeal covers a gamut of different industries and professions. “We’ve had people applying with unrelated degrees like political science or manufacturing... some of whom are in business, but who have an art connection,” says Dr Carter. Even the way it’s marked has a creative twist. Students hand in three essays (one a term), are given detailed feedback, then rework them for submission as part of a portfolio at the end of the course and are awarded a final grade.
different areas – and you’ll undoubtedly end up enriched in ways that might surprise you. “It’s about doing something where you’re out of your comfort zone, so inevitably we have to try and create an environment which is conducive to that and which is going to encourage students to do that rather than just end up falling back on old tropes and doing old things,” says Dr Carter. “We encourage people to try new things, without there being any risk attached.” For many of us, acquiring a new skill or broadening existing ones can hit that sweet spot in a way that makes us feel good about ourselves and rightly proud of our new accomplishments. Others need some additional help with rediscovering that sense of success and wellbeing. It’s here that life coaches such as Madeleine Morgan come in. About 90% of the people she sees, often high-flyers – company bosses and highly skilled professionals among them – lack confidence. “I’ve coached some really successful people who have been dogged by imposter syndrome,” she says. “It doesn’t matter how successful they are, they still feel
What do students get out of it? It’s almost a question of what they won’t. For a start, it’s equivalent to a half year at university in terms of credit (most students will already have higher education qualifications). Then there’s its focus. Creativity is something that makes us uniquely human, gives us the ability to rethink life, the universe and everything. Sign up for this course – for professional reasons or just because you’re interested in a topic that has the capacity to enhance so many
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