65 percent of parents in the United Kingdom say that creative courses in UK universities contribute to the country’s economy. The study highlights that creative courses form a major part of the national GDP and strengthen the overall economic output.

The latest study conducted by Savanta ComRes for Universities UK, representing 140 universities across the UK, has revealed a diverse set of results from the workforce.

The study shows that 69 percent of the surveyed parents suggest significant importance of the creative skills gained at higher education in the United Kingdom. 

They believe their presence is vital to strengthen the UK creative industries, Erudera.com reports.

Additionally, 71 percent of parents stated that they are proud of the UK as a citizen. They said it was one of the “world’s leading producers of creative culture”.

Alistair Jarvis, the Chief Executive of Universities UK, said that universities in the UK region boast creative education, be it England or Wales.  

He also said that brilliant academics are vital to the country’s creative excellence and essential to thriving creative industries. 

“Universities are places where creative ideas flourish, where innovation happens, and where businesses employing thousands of people are started. They’re where the nation’s creative sparks are ignited,” Jarvis added.

70 percent of parents agreed secondary activities are essential to maintain Covid

A major part of the study also revealed factors that affected students’ creativity during the pandemic.

As per the report, 70 percent of parents pointed out that creative activities - be it reading, gaming, listening to music, or watching television - are essential to maintain well-being during the Covid.

The UK higher education board has been under severe pressure to attract international students to their universities in the last two years. 

To promote higher attendance, the administration has launched several student-oriented programmes and allowed various vaccines to be eligible for entry in the UK.

While the pandemic hasn’t vanished permanently, the country is now seeing a great revival of demand amongst the international populace.

Taking many considerations into the final picture, the survey also took a poll on parents’ expectations from the government. In it, over 59 percent agreed that the government should offer more funding to creative university courses due to the impacts of the pandemic

Out of these, roughly 50 percent showed positive signs that the government shouldn’t prioritize STEM courses more than humanities and arts.

Keith Chapman, the Creator of popular animated series like Bob the Builder and PAW Patrol, also shared his experiences over his lifetime and the role of creative courses he studied in the university.

“My career would not have been possible without the skills I learned and people I met during my time at university.”

Chapman also highlighted that there had been less work done than required in the creative industries of the UK.

“If the Government wants our creative industries to remain the best in the world, they must show they understand how important creative courses are to their success,” he said.

Whilst the government is doing everything possible, a large number of parents (roughly 67 percent) fear that the UK’s renowned creative output could now be under threat.

“Two-thirds of UK parents acknowledge that creative industries have suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic,” the press release by Universities UK reads.

Before the pandemic, the creative industry brought more than £116 billion to the economy. The sector, which has been consistently growing before 2020, employs 2.1 million people.

To cater to such a large workforce, it will be a close-sighted scenario how the government tackles a complex situation and jump-start the industry before it is unrecoverable.