12. Preparation for Industry using the Ikigai Framework and Alumni

Published by: Creative Pedagogy

Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Year: 2026

Author: Sarah Lewington, Department of Fashion, Nottingham Trent University 

Corresponding Author: sarah.lewington@ntu.ac.uk

Self-promotion has always been an integral part of the curriculum on BA (Hons) Fashion Communication and Promotion (FCP) at NTU but tended to focus on the professional outputs of CVs, Cover letters and Portfolios rather than the personal development that underpins these. Cooke et al. (2024) discuss how student-centred, identity building, holistic employability pedagogy can empower students to develop real-world readiness, however there is no mention of a specific framework to help contextualise these principles.

When COVID-19 injected uncertainty into the graduate market, the IKIGAI framework was introduced to initially help the level 5 students understand more clearly how they could achieve a sense of purpose while fostering a deeper connection to their creative field and their future career. This coincided with the introduction of a new 20-credit module at level 6 entitled Personal Development and Professional Practice which was used to frame the teaching across all levels. Ikigai is an excellent model to contextualise both their personal and professional development as it helps the students to explore What they love, What they’re good at and What they can be paid for while at the same time ensuring they consider What the world needs.

The course also leverages its vibrant alumni network so that students can see first-hand how graduates have and are adapting to the evolving vocational landscape during and after the pandemic.

FCP has continued to use the Ikigai framework and nurture its alumni relationships since the end of COVID, as putting the student and their values at the heart of this model keeps the framework alive and relevant.