Study Guide

Descriptions

The Bachelor of Arts graduates in live performance engineering work in a wide range of professional technical tasks in planning and leadership positions. They can work in various live performance venues, and as parts of production organizations and artistic teams. They master the systems in lighting, sound, video and stage engineering in a versatile way. They are acquainted with the tools and practices of the technical planning and implementation of various productions. The work tasks are executed mainly at theatre and opera houses, cultural and community centers, in live performance production and planning, concert and festival activities and international performance productions and events, production planning agencies as well as sales and installation related activities.
Graduates of live performance program are constantly poised to embrace new technological applications and take on the challenges posed by new production models and forms of performances and events. They run smoothly in technical production of live and virtual events as well. Designing and building reliable and secure systems to meet the needs of events and performances, smooth operation of hardware, and fast problem solving are commonplace for them. They work innovatively and creatively in the rapidly evolving environment of performance and event technology and are able to develop performing arts environments even further. Studying provides the skills for continuous learning and broad understanding in the continuously evolving work of the field. Diversity-wide professional studies take advantage of project learning and the studies also allow extensive professional networking.
The focal points of the studies are
- extensive expertise in light, audio and video technology and stage mechanics
- the safety in performing arts and event environment
- expertise in artistic-technical process
- skills in technical design, technical production and technical documentation
- professional development and research in theses
- project management and management skills

In a rapidly changing work environment, learning skills, continuosly developing technology competencies, and resposible acting in work community are increasincly important. Making ethically, ecologically and economically sustainable solutions is becoing more and more important. The students of live performance engineering create their own expertice profiles through elective and advanced studies, and projects. The students are encouraged in internationalization both in their regular curricular studies and in a possible international exchange or international internship.

The curriculum consists of Core Curriculum for
- Media Majors (20 credits)
- Core Studies in Live Performance Engineering (35 credits)
- Professional Studies in Live Performance Engineering (75 credits)
- Project Studies (45 credits)
- Elective Minor Courses and Multidisciplinary Studies in Live Performance Engineering (20 credits)
- Internships (30 credits) and
- Final Project (15 credits).

The core curriculum consists of studies related to learning skills, research and development basics and language studies. The core studies in live performance engineering build foundation for professional competencies. They focus on understanding performing arts as a field, as well as production and management skills. The professional studies provide students with wide mastery and understanding of technical systems and their use, as well as an ability to widen and reinforce their skills. The project studies are used to deepen and to apply the competencies in technical-artistic processes, for example in developing the work practices either personally or in one’s own organization, and by executing a multidisciplinary innovation project. The project studies are mainly deeply integrated with working life.

The purpose of elective minor courses and multidisciplinary studies is to deepen and/or supplement professional competencies. In this part the students can include supplementary studies and so called side studies to their personal study plan. These studies also offer an easy and flexible way to integrate international exchange studies as part of the degree. Internship is possible to do either domestically or abroad. The language studies are integrated to professional studies in order to enhance domestic internationalization. The Final Project is work life related, independently executed research and development project. The final thesis can be integrated with an artistic or a practical project, a live performance or a documentation. The Final Project can also be executed as a pair or group work.

The 2021 curriculum has been renewed by strengthening the focus on performance and event safety, technical planning and supervisor competencies. Additional attention has also been paid to essentials and history of the performing arts and the supportive mathematical-physical and electrical and computer network competencies. Possibilities for continuous learning are enhanced by strengthening the competence-based assessment.

Objective

The key competencies of a Bachelor of Arts in Live Performance Engineering degree are the extensive knowledge of performance technology and technical design and the ability to act as a technical expert in performance and event activities. Graduate knows light, sound and video systems and stage machinery in wide and has been able to get more fully acquainted with a particular professional area. He or she understands the artistic work processes of performing arts and events and knows how to participate in them as a technical expert. Graduate understands the specific requirements for performance and event safety and is capable of developing safe working practices. He or she is able to work effectively in projects responsible for the production process in his professional area. Graduate is capable of acting in technical design and supervisory roles in performance and event engineering. He or she is ready for continuous learning and development of his/her own skills in a rapidly changing work environment. Graduate is capable of creative problem solving required by changing situations and knows how to make decisions in unforeseen situations. He or she is able to assess and develop working practices and take into account the global and technological developments in the field in their work.

The curriculum of the Degree Programme in Live Performance Engineering is based on eleven competencies or professional skills:
- multidisciplinary competency in technical theatre and event technology: light, sound, video and stage
- safety in performance and event activities
- production and management skills
- expertice in technological artistic processes
- project management competencies
- learning skills
- ethical competencies