Avolites and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Announce Five-Year Partnership to Support Production Training

	The long-term partnership will see students from the Production Technology and Management course receive both training and access to Avolites' software and hardware. Photo: Christoph Wagner

Avolites and The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) have engaged in a five-year agreement with the aim of enhancing students' access to leading professional visual control systems, tools, and training.

Celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, RCS offers the only conservatoire-based technical theatre degree in Scotland, the BA Production Technology and Management program. Avolites has a strong commitment with training the new generation of LDs.

The long-term partnership will see students from the Production Technology and Management course receive both training and access to Avolites' software and hardware to leverage their wealth of knowledge and put it into practice, the company says. In the first instance, Avolites will provide students with access to training for its leading lighting control software, Titan.

For full access of the software, Avolites will supply Avo keys (USB dongles that plug into a console or laptop to allow students to use their laptops as a fully functioning lighting console) for each intake of new students and will provide RCS students with access to Avolite's online learning platform for them to take the Titan Level 1 course.

This training will also be offered in-person at RCS in Glasgow, with regular visits from the Avolites' training team to host these sessions.

In addition, Avolites has loaned a Tiger Touch II console to serve for additional training purposes and RCS use. When it comes to RCS shows and other live events, the partnership will see RCS staff and students receive support from the Avolites team.

The three-year BA Production Technology and Management degree aims to produce production technicians, stage managers, and lighting designers who can turn their hands to any related role, making them employable in a range of contexts, while also being specialists in career pathways, from stage management, stage technology and sound design to sound engineering, lighting technology and lighting design.

Ros Maddison, head of production at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, says: "We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Avolites to ensure our students have access to the right equipment to prepare them for a successful career in the entertainment industry."

Christoph Wagner, lecturer in lighting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, says: "We are thrilled to start this partnership. Avolites has been very generous in offering our students Editor AvoKeys and access to a console, and what makes this relationship truly stand out is their willingness to offer support to our students when they need it."

Paul Wong, managing director, Avolites, says: "To begin any educational journey, you need a strong foundation and support system, and through this partnership RCS students can combine their academic studies with access to our professional visual control tools. Our long-term commitment will allow us to be there for the students every step of the way, from learning the basics, to developing specialist skills that will push their career further, and faster."