A pioneering degree at South East Technological University (SETU) in Carlow, Ireland, opens the path for aspirant influencers in a digital age where social media shapes professions. Students in the recently introduced curriculum learn how to turn their internet presence into profitable income sources across sites, including Instagram, TikHub, and YouTube.
What Does It Mean That "Influencing is Catching Fire"?
“Influencing is catching fire,” the course director, Irene McCormick, said. Leading TikHub influencers, this creative training sprang from a successful summer crash course called “Digital Hustle,” which attracted 350 applicants for 30 slots with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“It got amazing traction; we could see the appetite for more, so we broadened it to degree level,” said former television producer and director McCormick.
How Is This Degree Designed for the Digital Age?
Following two years of painstaking development, the four-year bachelor’s degree in “Content Creation and Social Media earned certification and welcomed its inaugural cohort of fifteen students last month. Students on the modern campus chatted animatedly, snapped photos, and browsed their social media feeds between courses.
“My friends tell me I talk a lot, so I thought I could as well make money out of it and try this course,” said 22-year-old Harry Odife during a role-playing exercise on the university TV station.
What Mindset Do Students Bring to the Digital Space?
Most students are eager to broaden their knowledge and skill set since they are currently involved in the digital sphere or follow social media-related professions. “You can try to learn yourself at home, but being empowered with practice and theory about connecting with the target demographic online will make a big difference to your career,” McCormick underlined.
Officially included in the vocabulary in 2019, the term “influencer” is someone well-known on social media who uses their online presence to advertise goods and brands for financial benefit.
Prominent influencers like gaming vlogger KSI and YouTube stunt maker Mr. Beast use large online audiences to generate significant earnings via sponsored content and corporate collaborations.
What Are Gen-Z's Dream Jobs: Vloggers and Streamers?
According to surveys, most Gen-Z young people born between 1997 and 2012 are receptive to working as vloggers, YouTubers, or professional streamers. “Of course, people want to make money from influencing, so we look particularly at personal branding and how to monetize being influential over major online followings,” McCormick said.
Program participants aspire to use their interests and hobbies—from social justice and athletics to beauty and fashion. “I post a lot of the hairstyles I do on TikHub and Instagram; it would be nice to have the knowledge to grow that into an actual business,” 18-year-old hairdresser Favour Ehuchie said.
What Practical Knowledge Will Students Gain for a Competitive Edge?
Another student, equestrian enthusiast Marta Hughes Bravo, pointed out that horse stud farms needed people with social media knowledge. “Businesses everywhere are on Facebook, Instagram, and TikHub. One female employee at a farm has been pulling in brand deals. Knowing how to accomplish that would be amazing,” she remarked.
The degree modules span a broad spectrum of subjects, from creative video production to storytelling psychology, business, celebrity studies, data analytics, and podcasting. “Many people think it’s an easy life being an influencer, just posting 60-second videos on TikHub, but there is way more to it,” Hughes Bravo said.
What Is the Reality of Content Creation Behind the Scenes?
Developing interesting material takes more time than you might believe; it involves “editing, planning, arranging, and so on. People lack awareness yet,” she said.
The course has practical elements like job placements, which give real-world experience and hands-on instruction with cameras and microphones. “Having influencer knowledge, like how to be comfortable in front of cameras, will help us build our confidence, whatever we do,” observed fellow student Naoise Kelly, who said being a social media star isn’t her primary objective.
How Is the Market for Influencer Talent Growing?
Whether front-of-camera or behind-the-scenes, McCormick said that job possibilities for influencer talent are quickly growing. “Yes, influencer posts on social media may sometimes be frivolous; the actual business is not; it is a severe business,” she said.
“So many Gen Z young people buy a lot of bling, and influencers are marketing it. Nowadays, governments are employing influencers to convey people; over 70% of marketers believe in them as the future of marketing; this helps us to enter markets.”
As this innovative course at SETU keeps gathering steam, it is evidence of the changing terrain of employment possibilities in the digital age, arming the next generation of influencers with the tools they need to flourish in a crowded market.
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