Building confidence through self-efficacy
in Solent Creatives
Solent Learning & Teaching Community Conference
2016
Solent Creatives• Set up in 2011• Matches our talented
creative students to freelance projects
• Supports creative business start-ups
• Embedded in the curriculum
• New courses in Creative Enterprise for 2016
Solent Creatives• Students register and tell
us their skills• Clients register their
projects• Solent Creatives matches
the student to the job• Students empowered to
act as freelancers, managing all aspects of the project
• Supported by the Solent Creatives’ team
Freelancing @ Solent Creatives
• Levels 5 & 6• All students must
work on at least one freelance project that matches their skillset
• Alongside learning about how to be a freelancer
Freelancing @ Solent Creatives
• Business Skills– Client servicing– Invoicing– Negotiation– Working to a brief– Time management– Project
management
• Enterprise behaviours & competencies
“…a broad set of skills including initiative, resourcefulness, self-management, creative & critical thinking and the ability to take informed risks”
Darby & Dellot, 2013
Reflection & Action“Individuals successful in enterprise or entrepreneurship often have heightened levels of self-awareness developed through reflecting upon, and continually learning from, their actions.”
QAA, 2012
Albert Bandura• Self-efficacy– Mastery experiences– Vicarious experiences– Social persuasion– Emotional status
Bandura, 1997
Self-belief does not necessarily ensure success, but self-
disbelief assuredly spawns failure (1997,
p. 77)
Linking reflection & self-efficacy
Self-efficacy Reflection
Growth in confidenc
e
“From this I feel that I have grown in confidence because of the amount of
support I had and encouragement when we found out how well we had
done. When I started this process I feel I wouldn’t have the confidence to
do something individually or take control, now I feel that I can do anything if I’m passionate for a
particular project”2nd year student
“I am proud of what we have produced and I feel as a producer I’ve learnt to be
more confidence in my decisions and in future to be more open with my team”
2nd year student
“However, on top of this I have also found the reflection of critical
importance. By examining clearly and in depth I
have discovered things that I didn’t pick up “in
the moment.””2nd year student
Case Studies• “Dealing with professionals, getting good feedback, being
treated as a professional myself I came out of freelancing feeling I can take on any job!” ( 2nd Year, Computer Games (Art) Student)
• “I've now been involved in numerous freelance projects for various clients and I'm earning doing the things I love. Opening my mind to the unit, and engaging fully is possibly the best thing I've done while at University. Freelancing @ Solent Creatives has lead to incredible experiences and opportunities, and I've made some amazing contacts taking on the work offered.” (2nd Year, Computer & Video Games Student)
• “I am now comfortable, able to freelance and negotiate with clients with ease.”(3rd Year, Film & Television Student)