Study Guide

Descriptions

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE
The animation degree programme of Turku University of Applied Sciences is a four-year, 240-credit programme leading to the degree of Bachelor of Culture and Arts. It provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for the animation and visual arts professions. The course emphasises the specificity of animation and animation as an art form and a form of expression in its own right.

It emphasises the development of the student's own artistic expression, professional activities and working life skills. The methods and techniques of animation offer a wide range of possibilities for implementation, which students can apply in their own artistic expression and in various work assignments. After completing the training, the artist will be able to work and develop their own artistry in the field of animation, in the wider field of art and in multi-professional cooperation. The visual arts education takes into account the artist's responsibility for social and ecological sustainability.

The fine arts are visible and have an impact on society. The strategic guidelines of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the City of Turku and Southwest Finland emphasise the importance of the cultural sector as a driver of well-being, cooperation, competitiveness and attractiveness of the region. Art is part of a good life.

Fine art education has strong regional, national and international cooperation networks. Education implements the National Vision 2030 for fine art education and training, for example in promoting equality and multiculturalism in the arts and improving accessibility.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF TRAINING
The study of animation is practical and collaborative. Studies include workshops on a variety of methods and themes, artistic projects and training in professional practices. Through professional learning activities, students will develop their own expression and learn a variety of animation and artistic practices. Alongside practical work, you will practice observation and critical thinking in theoretical studies. In addition to the joint courses in fine art, the animation course also includes studies with the Film studies program. In feedback discussions with the teachers, in joint group viewings and in seminar sessions, students analyse and evaluate their learning and the development of their own artistic work.

The studies are divided into core and extended competences. Core competences include common language studies, the basics of art history and theory, professional practices and professional studies of your choice. Extended competences consist of personal artistic work, internships, project studies, optional studies and a thesis.
The fine art curriculum is flexible and allows for different learning pathways. For example, you can work with your tutor to build a personal learning plan (HOPS) that supports your own goals from a range of vocational studies. You can also choose internships and electives to deepen your own orientation. During the twice-yearly workshop week, students can expand their knowledge in areas such as painting, graphics, curatorial practices, current phenomena in contemporary art, performance art, analogue methods of photography, etc.

The first year of studies will progress from the basics of artistic work to professional studies in animation. It is a practical introduction to sustainable and safe practices and to the professional field of animation. Theoretical and linguistic studies go hand in hand with practical processes.

In the second year, the focus is on independent or group practice productions, where students will gain a holistic understanding of the different stages of animation production, concepts, approaches, practices and theories.
Professional studies in animation training will emphasise storytelling and animation in cartoons. In addition, students can study stop motion and 3D techniques, visual design, editing and sound work.
Foreign exchange students coming to the Fine Arts programme will be placed in professional studies, so some of the teaching will be in English. During the second year, students will also learn about entrepreneurship and contemporary art theory and practice.

In the third year, students will deepen their artistic work and their own professional growth during their internship. Third-year students are encouraged to take part in international student exchanges through the networks offered by the school. The KUNO network of Baltic and Nordic art schools allows for short exchanges, while longer exchanges are possible through programmes such as Erasmus+.
During the traineeship (30 credits), students will learn about the tasks of their profession in a real working environment. The aim of the internship is to prepare the student for employment in a variety of jobs in the field of animation or as a specialist in the visual arts. Part of the traineeship is integrated into the thesis process. Traineeships can also be carried out abroad, in research, development and innovation projects or as part of visual arts services.

The fourth year of studies is built around a thesis. Students will carry out a research-based and artistic thesis, the working process of which will reflect the reality of the work in their professional field. The artistic thesis is carried out in cooperation with working life. The theoretical studies in art that precede the thesis will equip the student for artistic research and development in the field of fine art. Exploratory and developmental artistry is at the heart of the thesis process.

Students can choose optional studies (30 credits) from the teaching offerings in Fine art, from the teaching offerings of other fields of study at the Turku University of Applied Sciences, as exchange studies in accordance with their personal study plan or as practical art projects, for example as part of research, development and innovation activities.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Artists graduating from animation studies work in a wide range of fields in the visual arts and animation. They work as independent artists and filmmakers, media artists, directors, animators, storyboard artists and visual designers in audiovisual production companies, animation studios and media houses. Many also work as illustrators and cartoonists. In addition, graduates have been employed in their own business or cooperative activities.

FURTHER STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
The Bachelor of Culture and Art degree gives eligibility to apply for suitable master degrees at Finnish and international universities and colleges.

Objective

The aim of the Fine art education is that the graduating artist is able to work professionally in the field of animation and art and to present the results of their work in public. They are familiar with the phenomena and history of art and recognise the relationships between different artistic trends and phenomena. They will be able to examine their own artistic activity in relation to the artistic tradition and will be familiar with regional, national and international practices in the field of art and animation. The graduate will have a documentary, investigative and developmental approach to artistic work.

Graduates in animation have the ability to use animation techniques and tools in an appropriate way and to develop their technical, expressive and theoretical skills. At the same time, they recognise their own skills and the potential for multidisciplinary cooperation. During the course of the studies, group and interaction skills and well-being at work will be practised.

Animation studies encourage independent artistic choices and develop the ability to evaluate and analyse one's own and others' artistic work. Graduates in Fine art will understand the practices of their profession and the opportunities for development in a changing society. In their artistic work, they take into account issues of a sustainable future, holistic thinking and their own proactive approach to development. Graduates are able to apply their skills and communicate them in different contexts.

Development

In animation teaching, the focus is on practical, workshop-style activities where practical skills and critical thinking are practiced. The vocational workshops focus on the practices and expressions of the animation industry, as well as the processes of making art. Theory studies run alongside the workshop teaching, where one's own artistic work relates to the practices and traditions of art. Animation student productions are connected to the production house, which is a learning environment that simulates the operating practices of the film industry. The learning plan is flexible and allows students different routes and opportunities to specialize in a wide variety of jobs in the animation industry. In accordance with innovation pedagogy, pedagogical diversity is emphasized in the implementation of study courses. The studies include participation in public exhibitions in the school's gallery spaces or other spaces. As the studies progress, the proportion of students' independent work increases and the role of the teacher changes to that of a supervisor. The thesis carried out in the fourth year includes a research part, which reflects and gives background to the artistic work as well as an independent artistic work. In thesis seminars, the student presents their artistic work, its starting points, implementation and results.

In research, development and innovation projects (RDI) and other cooperation projects, we work together with the professional field. Regional and national partners are organizations, companies, communities in the field of fine art and film, as well as animation and games. Art events, workshops, public art or art-applied products, events or services can be realized in cooperation. In addition to collaborative projects, internships provide opportunities to network and supplement and apply one's own skills in practice. Internship seminars present internship experiences and evaluate the development of skills. With optional and project studies, the student can deepen their knowledge in animation productions and expand their knowledge to other professional fields.

In addition to national projects, there are also projects implemented with international partners. In addition, international contacts can be made in KUNO network workshops, longer student exchanges or international internships. The teaching of workshop and artistic work (60 credits in total) is partly carried out in English when exchange students participate in the courses.

Further information

Evaluation of your own work and learning is an ongoing and holistic process. During the course, learning is assessed in a variety of ways, for example through feedback discussions, exercises, essays, reports, analyses or examinations. Through feedback discussions and peer assessment, students will develop their ability to evaluate and develop their own performance. The assessment will focus on competence and development in line with the objectives of the course. Assessment is dialogical and is built up through discussions between the student, the teachers and the group. External experts may also be involved in the assessment.

Fine art teaching and learning processes are developed in dialogue with students and teachers, for example through course feedback and annual student feedback days. National and international networks of representatives of the professional field, partners and trainers in fine art education are used to develop, for example, future competence objectives and operating environments.