Didactics

Macromedia adheres to an innovative didactic philosophy. As a University of Applied Sciences, the close connection between applied research on the one hand and the study of theory and practice on the other lies at the heart of the teaching concept. Teaching is a mix of practical theory, personal experience and further exploration.

The teaching at Macromedia University of Applied Sciences maintains high standards and principles. Our aim is to apply current didactic progress to our teaching.

We place equal weight on providing students with scientific methods and techniques, a practical education and individual development. This means in particular:

• Incorporating the latest pedagogic findings and adequate use of media in teaching
• Special focus on practical experience through projects
• Development of personal skills by dint of collaborative learning and working in small study groups
• Independent study in the form of presentations, seminar papers and project-specific case studies
  
  

• Lectures provide an academic overview of the subject and context in conjunction with independent study, exercises and tutorials.
• Seminars provide an introduction to the methods and work practices for each subject with the active participation of the students. Fields are explored individually or in groups and students give both oral and written presentations.
• Students gain practical skills on given problems by doing exercises using the relevant media technologies
• Projects introduce students to work practices, developing and testing their teamwork and organisational and communications skills in particular
• The practical module involving company placement (internship) is the student's introduction to the world of work and the professional environment

The teaching programme is enhanced by guest lectures, special lecture series on new and topical themes from Media and Communication and by excursions to business enterprises.

Macromedia University of Applied Sciences offers students a modern and friendly learning atmosphere which is most conducive to success. The premises are more like an agency than an educational institution. Bright rooms with modern information and communications infrastructure provide the perfect setting for effective teaching, learning and concentrated discussion.

On the technical side, the university has a vast range of IT equipment (Mac & PC computers and laptops) and sound and TV recording studios at several locations on-campus.

Students work on computers with 19" or 20" TFT monitors. All workstations have Internet and network connections.

The network available to our students is a 1-gigabit network, which facilitates networking with the speed of a local hard drive.

Macromedia University's radio station in Munich is designed for professional use: Airbase, cart machine, CD player and CD burner, headset, two guest microphones. Sounds, effects and jingles can be input from two audio PCs at the touch of a button. A music archive is also available.

The campuses in Munich and Cologne offer TV recording studios equipped with 3 studio cameras, blue screen and digital lighting in which, for example, interviews, can be recorded.

In the media world of today and tomorrow it is not enough just to be an expert in your own special subject. Career success depends largely on your people skills; for example, all the personality traits which are essential for teamwork, being a good listener, being able to assess and motivate yourself and others, to delegate work within the team and coping with being under pressure for time and to perform.

Personality development is a focus at Macromedia University. Seminars like leadership training, teamwork, creativity, communication, conception and presentation are all part of the curriculum. Some courses include training in TV and radio presenting.

Macromedia University develops personalities who operate in a global market and work on projects spanning countries and cultures. This is the rationale for a two-pronged approach: intercultural exchange and specific projects in theory and research with an international background.

International projects and case studies during the period of study illustrate how global standards are established locally. Ultimately, a TV show format or a video game does not work the same way in Japan and Germany.

Students gain this experience on foreign trips during their studies or on internships and thereby acquire this so-called tacit knowledge locally at a partner institution or company abroad.

Quality is the distinguishing factor in the education sector. Being a private university, Macromedia has to assert itself in a highly competitive environment. Our success is due to the quality of our courses and the excellent supervision our students receive, for which Macromedia University has a high standard of evaluation in place.

All courses at Macromedia University are accredited by Acquin or FIBAA and are reviewed every five years. The accreditation agencies assess whether our programmes adhere to the criteria of the Bologna Process and meet the standards set by the Science Council. Macromedia is also a certified training centre for Adobe software.

Every six months quality of teaching is evaluated by the students using differentiated criteria. Their feedback assists Macromedia University, which itself is in the learning process, in adapting to new criteria and demands.

All processes at the university conform to the quality standard ISO 9001.