MeCCSA is the subject association for the field of media, communication and cultural studies in UK Higher Education. Membership is open to all who teach and research these subjects in HE institutions, via either institutional or individual membership. The field includes film and TV production, journalism, radio, photography, creative writing, publishing, interactive media and the web; and it includes higher education for media practice as well as for media studies.
MeCCSA is an unincorporated association, whose constitution includes the following purposes:
- Supporting, developing and representing the interests of Higher Education in the field
- Providing a professional forum for members to exchange information and experience
- Raising public understanding of the field
- Maintaining and improving the quality of provision in teaching and learning in the field
- Advising research and funding councils, and other relevant national and international bodies
- Promoting the interests of students
- Fostering research in the field
- Advising on professional qualifications in the field
- Promoting policies which encourage diversity and equal opportunities in the field
The Association is recognised by, and works with, government departments and other agencies. We have represented the subject area and make recommendations to bodies like the Arts and Humanities Research Board (now Council), the Economic and Social Research Council, the Quality Assurance Agency, the Higher Education Funding Councils and Skillset. We have a section of the membership organised around supporting practice-based education and research ; and three networks devoted to women’s media studies , race and post-graduate issues. Each year MeCCSA holds a conference which attracts around 200 delegates internationally, and which includes keynote speakers, academic papers, presentations around media and teaching practice, networking opportunities and the AGM at which the Executive is elected by the membership. Throughout the year other events are held or supported by MeCCSA, such as the MeCCSA postgraduate conference , and the Journal of Media Practice symposium.
We produce a newsletter twice a year, available to members, and this
website is updated regularly with other News.
The current Association was formed in January 2007 by the merger of two previous subject sector associations – MeCCSA and the Association of Media Practice Educators (AMPE). MeCCSA had been founded in 1999 from another merger of two associations in the field. AMPE was also founded in 1999, after the emerging tertiary sector of media practice education organised to represent and help develop practice issues in both teaching and researching media. By 2005 it was recognised that collaborative working could be enhanced by closer ties, and both organisations held their first joint annual conference in 2005 at the University of Lincoln. A merger proposal was passed by both AGMs at the 2006 Leeds Metropolitan University conference, and the new MeCCSA came into being at the University of Coventry in 2007.
Constitution
- MeCCSA constitution (PDF, 96k)
