How ASE empowers students to own their careers

In today’s fast-evolving creative economy, owning your career means more than just knowing your craft. It is about having real autonomy, the kind that expands your options, strengthens your value in the marketplace, and equips you to thrive whether you are an employee, freelancer, or entrepreneur.

At Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE), we aim to help our students develop not only technical excellence but the business savvy to navigate an industry known for being as unpredictable as it is exciting.

Our approach is built on immersion. We do not believe in learning in a vacuum. Our students engage with the entertainment industry from the get-go, through hands-on experiences that count not only toward their practical training but also toward building their portfolios and networks. Whether it is recording a live performance for a publishing house or completing hours on set-with one of our broadcast partners, they are developing the kind of real-world experience that positions them well before they even graduate.

Practical experience

Just last year, students worked on projects ranging from producing original EPs to supporting technical teams at YFM. One of our producer students, Nkateko Shilowa even helped produce Elaine’s debut project (EP) - “Elements”. These success stories are the result of a curriculum that is tightly woven into the industry through long-standing partnerships. From live sound with Gearhouse to internships with Universal Music Publishing, we create spaces where theory meets application and talent meets opportunity.

But ownership goes beyond skill. It is also about confidence. This confidence comes from knowing how to engage professionally. We spend time unpacking contracts, practising negotiation strategies, and simulating real client interactions. These soft skills are as critical as the technical ones. Whether you are walking into a pitch meeting or navigating royalties, being able to represent yourself effectively can make all the difference.

That is why our Work Integrated Learning and Work Study programmes have become cornerstones of the ASE experience. They place students in industry settings. We look at both their experience levels and financial needs to match them with roles that help fund their education while giving them professional mileage. It is a win-win, with structured oversight from both ASE and our partner organisations to ensure that growth stays on track.

Keeping pace with change

As the industry continues to shift, especially with the rise of AI and new platforms, we are not standing still. Our lecturers are not just academics but active professionals. Whether they are on production sets, in editing suites, or behind the mixing desk at live events, they bring the latest trends directly into the classroom. That immediacy means our students often learn about new tools and challenges before they hit the mainstream.

We are also deeply engaged in forecasting what is coming. Yes, the next tool or trend, but also what those shifts mean for careers, business models, and creative rights. Whether it is AI-generated music or evolving licensing structures, our students are equipped to navigate these changes with eyes wide open. They do more than just use tech. Our students understand its implications and know how to protect their work in a landscape that is still being defined.

Building a career

At the heart of all this is a mindset shift. When students arrive, many think they are signing up for a few years of studio playtime. And while creativity and experimentation are vital, we make it clear that this is a profession. Just like law or engineering, it demands discipline, ethics, and resilience. We teach them to treat day one like the first day of their careers.

My advice to anyone entering the industry? Be insatiably curious. Ask questions, dig deeper, learn the rules, and then figure out how to break them with purpose. The industry rewards originality, yes, but it also rewards preparation and professionalism. We aim to instil all three.

When students graduate, they leave with a qualification and a body of work, a network of collaborators, a toolkit of hard and soft skills, and the confidence to own their careers wherever those careers may take them.