Keith Roberts
PhD Photographic Archival Intervention, 2017
About me
- Professor at The British University in Egypt
- Studied: PhD Photographic Archival Intervention, 2017
About my career
The PhD supervisors’ research profiles were strongly aligned with my field of interest. I was based in the North West of the UK at that time and I needed a University within this region that could support the research I was proposing. Manchester Met really ticked all of these boxes for me.
I studied for my PhD on a part-time basis, so I was already in full-time employment as the Programme Leader for the degree course of Photography in Liverpool.
Today, I work as an Associate Professor in Photography in the newly established Faculty of Arts and Design at The British University in Egypt. I am currently writing and validating visual arts degree programmes in order to be delivered in September 2022, when the new building is complete. My area of teaching is both practice and theory-based photographic modules and my research deals with the photographic archive.
I would say that the most important skill area I developed during my time at Manchester Met was academic writing. My DoS was an Art Historian and not a photographic practitioner, so he was able to really help me learn how to structure, develop and edit a text.
Since completing my PhD, I undertook a postgraduate qualification involved with Research Degree Supervision, which prepared me to become a PhD supervisor. In addition to this I completed my application for SFHEA accreditation.
My top tip for students
Working within the visual arts is very challenging and very competitive. You must network as much as you can and often take the unpaid opportunities, in order to build a comprehensive portfolio, which should help you attract commissioned work.
I’m inspired by
My wife (Colette) and three boys (Douglas, Thomas, and Angus). In addition to this both my mother and father inspired me to work hard and achieve my goals.
Why I love Manchester Met
Supervisory meetings with my DoS.