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Paul Brafield has been appointed as the new Head of Media Design School (MDS), an award-winning digital and design technology tertiary institution.
The School is a part of Laureate Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Brafield will assume the post of General Manager, Design and Technology on December 14, 2018.
The role encompasses MDS in Auckland as well as Laureate’s Design faculty in Australia.
Extensive experience
Mr Brafield brings with him comes to the role with more than 23 years of industry, academic, business and leadership experience in the design and creative technology sectors.
He has been Director of Product Innovation at Laureate Australia and New Zealand for the past three years, responsible for implementing product strategy and driving best practice in the online and digital learning experience through product management, new programme development and enhancement.
His responsibilities included ensuring connectivity and collaboration with the global Laureate network of more than one million students studying at 60 higher institutions in 20 countries. Mr Brafield has a strong connection to Laureate’s Design faculty, having worked in a number of key roles, including Programme Director for Digital Media and Head of Learning and Teaching.
Effective links
He brings an abiding connection and understanding of New Zealand’s design, creative technology and higher education sectors.
Prior to joining Laureate, he was Programme Leader, Digital Media at AUT (Auckland University of Technology) for nine years. His career in education also encompasses international experience, holding positions at The University of London and Birkbeck College in the UK.
In New Zealand, Mr Brafield has worked as a Broadcast Graphic Designer and Art Director for a range of major television networks, including TVNZ, CanWest and Sky, and as a freelance designer and consultant on broadcast, film and web projects.
He said “I am delighted to be joining MDS, which I have long admired for its amazing quality of student work resulting from a strong focus on industry immersion. I am looking forward to supporting the growth of that highly successful model as we expand our offering into exciting fields, like artificial intelligence and cloud computing, and exploring innovative new study options for students, such as micro-credentials.”
Outgoing MDS Chief Executive Darryn Melrose described Mr Brafield as ‘a natural fit for the role.
“MDS is fortunate to have someone of Paul’s calibre to lead the School through the next era. His extensive experience and deep expertise in the fields of design and education as well as strategic business development make him the perfect choice,” he said.
About Media Design School
Media Design School was established 20 years ago and is New Zealand’s most awarded private tertiary institution for digital and creative technology qualifications.
The School offers programmes in Computer Gaming, Animation, Creative Advertising, Interactive and Graphic Design and Motion Graphics.
MDS will expand its offering in 2019 to include degrees and masters in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
In 2011, it became part of the global network of private higher education institutions, Laureate International Universities, which has more than one million students studying at 60 institutions in 20 countries.
Laureate Australia and New Zealand’s Design faculty incorporates Auckland’s Media Design School as well as Torrens University in Australia.
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Photo Caption:
Paul Barfield (Picture)
