One of the most exciting developments at VanArts has been our degree pathway partnerships with universities and colleges around the world, which give our graduates the option of continuing their studies towards a Bachelors' degree in their chosen field. 

VanArts' President Alan Phillips and Student Services Director Ken Priebe both had the recent opportunity to visit some of these schools in person, see their beautiful campuses and meet their staff and students. The schools visited were Bond University in Queensland, Australia (above left and below), Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand.  All three campuses are beautiful, dynamic, and full of creative energy, with excellent programs and facilities for students to pursue their studies. 

At Bond University: (Left to right) Professor Raoul Mortley, Dean of Faculty in Humanities & Social Sciences, Mr. Alan Phillips, President of VanArts, Ms. Veronica Boulton, Faculty Business Manager, Dr. Michael Sergi, Director of Film & Television

At Deakin University (above photo: Motion Capture Lab), we also got to catch up with our fellow VanArts 2D Animation graduate Rhin Kelly (below), who is currently studying at Deakin pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Film and Digital Media under the pathway program (and really enjoying the experience.)  We look forward to seeing more of our graduates choose this option of pursuing their degree at these fine institutions! 

For a detailed look at which VanArts programs are eligible for applications to these degree pathways, visit our Degree Pathways page here >>

At VanArts we love hearing stories and getting e-mails from our graduates to see what projects they are working on as their careers unfold. Here are a few examples of what our Digital Photography grads have been up to lately...

Our own Program Assistant Belle Ancell has been recently hired as a freelancer for Canada's Gay & Lesbian newspaper Xtra West, and just had her first cover photo published for a featured article on Vancouver's Little Sister's bookstore.  Her blog states that she feels "like a giggly school girl" at this great opportunity. 

Check out more of Belle's work at belleancellphotography.com

Taylor McBride, our youngest graduate to date at 18, has been hired as a retoucher for event photography by The Collective You, and also as an intern with Steve Kirby at The Image Lab. Taylor has had the opportunity to work on massive campaigns for clients including Miller Beer, Esso Gas and Nike, and to work alongside other artists like Phillip Jarmain. 

In Taylor's words, "I would not be where I am today without going to study at VanArts. Thank you for all your support over the year!" 

Chena San Martin, one of our graduates from Mexico City, has her photography featured in a new book which just launched here in Vancouver, Love & Cooking: The Erotic Cookbook by writer Tanille Geib. On working with Chena, Geib says on her website, "One can easily be caught up in the excitement that builds once she's developed an image in her mind's eye. This creative energy helps bring out the best in her models who forget themselves and come to share in that moment - a joint venture on either side of the lens."

Of all this inspiring creativity exhibited by our VanArts staff & graduates, Chena herself sums things up perfectly when she says, "The world is full of pictures that I can't stop taking." 

VanArts is pleased to announce that all of our programs now feature articulations for degree pathways with Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.  

Various Bachelor Degrees specific to each program can be earned in as little as one full year (3 trimesters) at Deakin, after graduating from the diploma program of their choice at VanArts.  

VanArts graduates from 2D/3D Character Animation are eligible to receive up to 12 credit points of advanced standing towards the 24-credit point Bachelor of Film and Digital Media (Animation Major) or Bachelor of Animation and Motion Capture degree programs. The latter degree is also available to VanArts graduates in Game Art & Design and Visual Effects. 

VanArts graduates may have the option of completing these Deakin degree programs over one full calendar year (three consecutive trimesters) of full-time intensive study (4 credit points of study per trimester x 3), or over two years (two trimesters per year x 2) of reduced load full-time study (3 credit points of study per trimester x 4).  

VanArts graduates in Acting for Film & Television, Broadcasting for Radio & Television, Web Development & Interactive Design and Digital Photography are now also eligible for 8 credit points into various degree programs at Deakin, for completing 4 credit points each in four trimesters.  An additional 12-credit articulation is also available for Digital Photography into their Bachelor of Creative Arts - Photography major. 

For international students at Deakin, their work permit is part of the student visa allowing them to work up to 20 hours per week.

Detailed assessments for the VanArts-Deakin articulations can be explored and accessed at the following link: deakin.edu.au/courses/credit/search.php

From this link, up-to-date information can be found by simply:

1. Selecting Canada from the first drop box;
2. Selecting VanArts from the second drop box;
3. Selecting the VanArts Diploma program from the third drop box; and
4. Selecting the Deakin degree program from the fourth drop box

For more information, you can also visit Deakin at www.deakin.edu.au

Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

VanArts is proud to share this special spotlight on Corwin Hiebert, our Business Development instructor for Digital Photography, featured in go! Vancouver on Shaw TV. 

In this video (the first segment featured in the episode), Corwin talks about his new book Living the Dream and the work he does to manage creative entreprenuers. Much of the footage in this feature was shot in our very own campus studio space, and many of our photography students can be spotted in the various cover mock-ups and footage from his recent book launch. 

Congratulations Corwin on being featured here! Read more at corwinhiebert.com.