On the evening of Tuesday 13th May at the ICA in central London, the University of Westminster's Hypermedia Research Centre (HRC) is organising a celebration of 7 years of its world-famous MA in Hypermedia Studies in conjunction with Cybersalon and Levi'sŪ Europe.

One of the first post-graduate degrees focused on digital creativity in Britain, this course has gone from strength to strength during the roller-coaster evolution of the new media industry. Its alumni have applied the practical and theoretical skills learnt on the MA to make successful careers in commerce, art, media, campaigning and academia. Ex-students are now working at Tomato Interactive, Recollective, BBCi, circlemakers.org, Amnesty International - Guatemala, the Catholic University of Sao Paulo and other prestigious institutions around the world. During the last year, the MA in Hypermedia Studies has forged a close link with Lateral - one of London's premier web design agencies - and has started on-line teaching with the Estonian Academy of Art's MA in Interactive Multi-media - which is led by a graduate from the course. Just like the new media industry, the MA in Hypermedia Studies is constantly changing to meet the challenge of new technologies and new ways of doing things.

The celebration consists of two parts: a Cybersalon debate in the ICA theatre and an exhibition in the ICA's Digital Studio.

The theme of the Cybersalon is Digital Learning. In recent years, it has become fashionable to sneer at media studies degrees as "noddy degrees." Yet the experience of the MA in Hypermedia Studies indisputably proves that learning the practical and theoretical skills of new media not only improves the mind, but also pays the rent!

The panel and the audience will discuss the role of new media courses in higher education. Should they be focused on training people for dotcom jobs? Do they offer a creative space for experiments in net.art? How can theory and practice be combined in new media teaching? What is the right balance between academic learning and "hands-on" experience? Speakers include Dr. Richard Barbrook, HRC, University of Westminster; Laura Jordan, Lateral & HRC; Tom Roope, Tomato Interactive; Stephen Whaley, New Media Knowledge; Jane Austin, Recollective and others.

The exhibition in the ICA's Digital Studio is called LEGACY 03. This will show a selection of work by staff, students and alumni from the MA in Hypermedia Studies, collected and curated by Sophia Drakopoulou. In addition, the entries from new media courses across Europe for the LEVISŪ Digital Art Award will also be on display. The exhibition is open from Monday 11th May to Wednesday 14 May and also can be seen on-line at: www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/legacy

The celebration will end with a party in the ICA bar with music from Cartel Communique - the leading 'cut-up' DJs in London.

Richard Barbrook, co-ordinator of the HRC and course leader of the MA in Hypermedia Studies, said: "We are proud of what our alumni have achieved and we are looking forward to what the next generation of students will accomplish."

Jon Bains, chairman of Lateral, added: "The MA in Hypermedia Studies has always been the benchmark for excellence. Lateral is extremely excited to help continue this fine tradition."