Thousands of DMU students graduated in July after years of hard work. We reported some of their stories in our Class of 2015 series...
“My time at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) just kept getting better,” says student Jake Bonham. “I’m pleased to be graduating but I’m sorry to be leaving.”
Jake, who will leave DMU with a 2:1 in Photography and Video BA (Hons), said the third and final year of his course was the best: “It was so rewarding because I threw myself into so many different things.”
The highlight of all this activity was earning the right to photograph the British Government’s GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai, which was opened by Prince William. DMU joined world-leading companies at the event – including HSBC, BBC Worldwide, Jaguar Landrover, PwC, IHG and British Airways – to showcase the importance of creativity and innovation in producing global graduates whose skills and mindset meet the needs of employers around the world.
Jake entered his portfolio and competed against other students to win the opportunity offered by #DMUglobal, the ground-breaking programme which aims to give the majority of students an international experience during their time with us.
He was responsible for covering the three-day celebration, focusing in particular on the university’s contribution: “It was a fantastic experience in a professional environment. It was an all-expenses paid trip and I photographed fashion, art and exhibits, and the images were published on the DMU website.”
For the rest of the week-long trip he could go around Shanghai, seeing the sights and eating out in local restaurants: “It was a great insight into the local culture and it really was the experience of a lifetime.”
During his time at DMU Jake became an Art, Design and Humanities brand ambassador through on-campus recruitment agency Unitemps, earning money by giving tours and showing Leicestershire children what university life is all about.
He also enjoyed a Frontrunners internship, putting what he learned in the lecture theatre into practice in the workplace: “I was a photography and video web developer, working on content so prospective students can get an idea of what we get up to on my course.”
On top of that, he found time to become a course rep, taking on a key liaison role between students and tutors, photo editor for the award-winning Demon Media, taking pictures to illustrate stories in the student newspaper; and a volunteer at Curve in Leicester, helping with the day-to-day running of the theatre.
Finally, his work shown at this year's Art and Design degree Show will now be added to the DMU art collection and displayed on campus.
Jake, from Cambridge, chose to come to DMU after really enjoying an open day: “Especially my interview with Laura McGregor, she really sold it to me as she looked through my images. It was a very different atmosphere from other open days I’d been to. I felt like I belonged here before I’d even started.
He has never regretted his decision: “All of the facilities have been excellent, all my needs while studying have been catered for and tutors have been very helpful in answering any queries. I have had a huge amount of success because of the support I have received.”
In the near future he is planning to exhibit at a gallery near his home in Ely. He is also hoping to show his work in the Wolves Museum at Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, and is submitting pieces to Float Art London, an organisation which helps recent graduates to get into the creative industry.
Looking further ahead, he hopes to become an assistant to a photographer or a creative organisation in London and is considering doing a postgraduate course in a few years’ time.
Posted on Wednesday 15 July 2015