Teaching of art and design degrees should change radically, a campaign group of 50 academics claims.

The Group for Learning in Art and Design (Glad) says that teaching should moving away from studying just one subject and instead focus on interdisciplinary learning, to reflect the nature of the creative industries.

The group also says that students should not spend their undergraduate years working with the same people on the same courses. Instead, it says, teaching groups should change frequently. It adds: “Greater emphasis should be placed on problem-solving skills, with an eye to preparing students for the unknown.

“[There should be] stronger involvement of business in the design of the curriculums, to help fill the skills gap.”

Glad concluded in a review that current teaching practice is not fit for purpose. It holds its annual conference next month and will discuss how the review's findings can be implemented.

Professor Linda Drew, Dean of Academic Development at the University of the Arts London, said: “Art and design education must take into account the needs of the global creative economy. If it does not we run the risk of being relegated to the creative second division.”

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