1- Is the VFX, animation, and postproduction industry still predominantly male ?
Based on my 15 years of industry experience, I believe it is. I have personally encountered challenges in advancing my career due to systemic gender bias. This question aims to validate those experiences through quantitative data and assess whether diversity remains limited in these sectors. Demonstrating this would support the argument that developing soft skills—particularly those related to STEM—can help individuals overcome structural barriers by equipping them with adaptive mindsets and practical tools.
2- Can soft skills—especially those related to STEM—be a key to increasing diversity in these three sectors?
I aim to explore whether there is evidence, even if indirect, that honing STEM-related soft skills can promote inclusion in the VFX, animation, and postproduction industries.
3- Is it worthwhile to restructure the MA course to nurture soft skills, particularly those aligned with STEM?
This question investigates how seriously the industry values soft skills when recruiting graduates, and whether it is feasible to integrate such skills into the curriculum in a way that is meaningful and acceptable to students.
4- How can I adapt the first term of the MA curriculum to support students’ soft skills development?
Unfortunately, the PG Certificate has not provided in-depth training in pedagogy, so I currently lack the theoretical foundation to make these changes confidently. I will need to research teaching strategies independently and test them during the Action Research cycle. So far, I have identified flipped classroom and scaffolded learning methodologies, which I am currently implementing in my teaching. I will evaluate their effectiveness at the end of the cycle.