My research method as discussed in the last blog post is qualitative Conversational Analysis.
I cannot post any raw data due to anonymity, as my interviews are all recorded voice files.
I can however, share my questions, and selected quotes from the interviews that informed my project.
Student Questions
-How do you perceive the difference between creating work as a student and preparing it for publication and sale in the professional arena? What are the major challenges you anticipate in this transition?
-In your experience, what kind of support or resources do you believe would be most beneficial to students in navigating the shift from creating student work to publishing and selling their creations?
-How do you think a Book Fair specifically tailored for LCC students—offering a free platform to exhibit and sell their work—would impact your aspirations and development as a budding creator? What opportunities or challenges do you foresee with such an event?
-Considering the academic calendar and workload, which time of the school year do you believe would be most feasible for students to participate in a Book Fair? How might this timing align with your coursework, maintaining grades, and other commitments towards your degree?
-Reflecting on your own experiences or those of your peers, what specific support mechanisms or guidance do you believe the college could implement to assist students in effectively managing both their academic workload and the preparation of their work for potential publication or sale?
-How do you think participating in events like a Book Fair could impact the overall learning experience and professional development of students within the creative fields? What skills or insights do you anticipate gaining from such opportunities?
-In your opinion, what types of workshops, mentorship programs, or additional educational initiatives could enhance students’ abilities to transition from the academic setting to the professional world of publishing and selling their creative work?
“Exposure to the professional world would help build confidence. Live briefs don’t actually feel like a real connection.”
“Shows feel like more of an advert for uni’s rather than it being about selling work, or making connections with professionals. And the degree show is more of a celebration with friends and family.”
“There feels like a heirarchy between students and professionals”
Alumni Questions
-Reflecting on your transition from graduation to selling your creative work while managing livelihood demands, what were the most significant challenges you faced? How did you navigate these challenges, and what strategies or support systems did you find helpful during this transition period?
-Looking back at your time as a student, what do you think could have better prepared you or your peers for the transition to selling your work and sustaining a living post-graduation? Were there specific resources, mentorship opportunities, or skills you wished you had acquired during your academic years?
-Considering your experiences, do you believe that a Book Fair held at LCC, providing a platform for students to exhibit and sell their work, would have been beneficial in your journey post-graduation? How might such an event have impacted your early career development?
-From your current standpoint as an alum, do you think participating in a Book Fair at LCC, specifically designed for alumni to exhibit and sell their work, would be advantageous? How might such an event support your ongoing professional pursuits or contribute to your career growth at this stage?
-As someone who has navigated the challenges of transitioning from academia to a professional career, what advice or insights would you offer to current students preparing to graduate and enter the professional realm within your field?
-Reflecting on your own journey, what kind of ongoing support or networking opportunities do you think alumni would benefit from to continue thriving in their creative careers, especially within the context of a university community like LCC?
-How do you think events like a Book Fair, both for students and alumni, could foster a sense of community and collaboration among past and present creatives associated with LCC? What potential collaborations or connections do you envision arising from such events?
“Getting work after graduation is impossible! There’s so many graduates and so little jobs. It’s been really hard.”
“Lecturers should be honest and not say “There’s so much work out there” because it’s not true! We did have portfolio reviews with external people, but it was halfway through our FMP (final major project) so we weren’t really focussing on it. Either do it before or after the deadlines are taken care of.”
“ I would rather be contacted by a person I remember, rather than a call-out from the uni. To be honest if I get a uni email, I just delete them without reading”
Staff Questions
-In your experience, how have students from your institution perceived and experienced Book Fairs as a platform for their professional transition? Have you noticed any particular ways in which participation in such events has positively affected their transition into the professional world?
-Could you describe how Book Fairs were typically set up or organised at your institution? What were the key components or strategies that contributed to making these events successful for students and beneficial for their professional development?
-Regarding the feedback received from invited professionals or peers who interacted with student work during Book Fairs, what were the notable observations or comments made about the showcased creations? How did these comments or evaluations impact the students’ confidence or future endeavours?
-Have you witnessed any discernible improvements in student work, skills proficiency, or confidence levels following their participation in Book Fairs or similar professional showcasing events? If so, could you elaborate on the specific areas where students seemed to make strides or show growth?
-From your perspective, what are the key elements or practices that contribute to making a Book Fair or similar exhibitions impactful for students in terms of enhancing their skills, confidence, and readiness for the professional arena?
-Based on your institution’s experience with these events, how do you think participation in Book Fairs or similar showcases contributes to the holistic development of students, beyond just their technical or creative abilities?
-Have there been any notable success stories or instances where student participation in Book Fairs led to significant opportunities or career advancements for them? How have these instances shaped your institution’s approach to fostering professional opportunities for students?
“Students find the transition difficult. They leave and don’t have access to equipment anymore.”
“Industry contacts are given out, but they are too nervous to reach out, they have a feeling of inadequecy.”
“It would be good if they had an understanding of how to set up their own shows or exhibitions, to invite industry to”
“We set up a faux interview system, or live briefs, but the status and heirarchy still exists. I think there’s is alot of intimidation”
“They felt more confident in interview settings, but not in terms of contacting them [professionals] as collaborators, or equals.”
“The difference between ‘good’ work and ‘bad’ work is just preference, which could lead to bad feelings in the students who arent picked”
“Selling thier work alongside professionals would be good- being in a respected professional environment made the students feel part of something”
“As a member of the public, the playing feild is totally even- you cant tell who is student and who is an established publisher”
“Feedback from those that did take part, they met loads of people, and felt like equals. Even if they didn’t make money, it worked for them”
“A fair taking place at the same time as another large fair pulls those that wouldn’t come otherwise, but as they are close anyway they do. I don’t want the professionals to have to choose between fairs, as they would choose the more established fair”