Engagement with the Next-Gen: SMPTE's Role in K-12, Higher Education, and Other Institutions

What role should SMPTE play in the encouragement of newcomers to our industry? Where will tomorrow's engineers and technologists come from who can invent, develop, and support professional media, whether it be film, video, or other media? — What is the curriculum that will enable students to pursue successful careers and how should SMPTE influence it as the industry embraces new technologies such as IP, Cloud, and AI? — The journey of new talent begins in K-12 schools, continues through such phases as higher education, apprenticeship, internship, military, and early careers to ultimately become the future generation of SMPTE members and the professional media technologists of tomorrow. How do we engage not only with the students themselves but also with the educators and the institutions that are involved? SMPTE already provides opportunities for scholarships, networking events, and in particular, its student chapters, but the dearth of schools offering courses in broadcast video engineering suggests that a much larger role is needed by on the part of SMPTE and our industry in general. — SMPTE is a community that can offer students personal networking, education, guidance, as well as the technical standards for interoperability for the ecosystem of professional media. — Some ideas that have been offered from students, educators, and SMPTE members are suggested. The new generation needs to be engaged in a way that we are not merely educators but learners as well, so that our conversation is truly two-way.

Published

2019-10

Content type

Original Research

Keywords

Students, Careers, Educators, Educational Institutions, Membership, Diversity

DOI

10.5594/M001881