University News Last updated 01 February 2011
A national report which revealed a skills gap in the UK’s booming games industry highlighted that at least one English university is successfully meeting the educational challenge – Birmingham City University.
Gamer Camp, a set of highly practical training schemes for game developers at Birmingham City University, has been recommended as an example of good practice in an official review, known as the Livingstone-Hope report, published by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).
The project – which is linked to global giants Sony and Microsoft – is also featured in an accompanying film, which praised the Gamer Camp courses for enabling students to “top up their degree” before finding a job in industry.
Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries Ed Vaizey MP, who instigated the skills report, was himself impressed by Gamer Camp on an earlier fact-finding visit to Birmingham City University – and said he would like to see a version extended out nationally into schools.
Gamer Camp is an advanced finishing school for talented game-makers and has been moulded to plug the industry’s skills gap that the Livingstone-Hope review highlighted.
The three Gamer Camp courses - Nano, Mini and Pro - have been created through close partnerships with leading companies, including household names Sony and Microsoft, plus global players in the sector based on the University’s own doorstep – such as games developers Codemasters, Blitz Games Studios, Rare and
Industry veterans Ian Livingstone and Alex Hope, who authored the NESTA review, recognise in their report that Gamer Camp is giving budding games artists and coders ‘real world’ preparation for a career in the multi-games industry.
“We are delighted that the NESTA report recognised the excellent work being led at Birmingham City University to support this important sector,” said Oliver Williams, Associate Director of NTI Birmingham, the University’s media and training studio which hosts Gamer Camp.
“Our commitment to meeting the real needs of industry and working in partnership with sector leaders is helping to drive our innovation in education.”
Oliver explained that partner businesses such as Sony and Microsoft supported Gamer Camp through supplying the latest development equipment and brand association, while developers offer invaluable expertise and mentoring both before and during each course.
Recently launching new course dates for its three courses in 2011: Nano (July), Mini (June to August) and Pro (September 2011 to May 2012), students will develop games for smartphones, Sony PSPGo, and Xbox360 and Playstation3 respectively.
Applications can now be made online for each Gamer Camp at www.GamerCamp.co.uk.
Computer gaming provision extends beyond Gamer Camp and includes partnership across the University itself, for example, courses and collaborative projects run by the University’s Faculty for Technology, Engineering and the Environment (TEE).
Opkar Bhatti, Business Solutions Manager at TEE, said: “The Livingston and Hope report has clearly highlighted a number of systemic concerns that have been emblematic of the current education system in addressing cross-disciplinary subject areas that the industry has been craving for.
“In addressing these concerns we at the Faculty for Technology, Engineering and the Environment at Birmingham City University are endeavouring to provide graduates with both the hardcore programming skills and the appreciative understanding of games animation, design and modelling.”
Opkar said this holistic approach, combining technical and design expertise, has been further enhanced by teams joining together from across the University, specifically the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) and NTI Birmingham - part of the Faculty of Performance, Media and English (PME) - on a number of educational projects.