Time and time again, whether at UK games industry events, in the UK games press, or in conversation with games studios, we hear the call that our university system here in the UK is not adequately preparing students for roles within the games industry. Why is this?
Is it that the education system in the UK is preventing individual institutions from keeping up with the pace of change of the games industry, in terms of technology, production methodologies and new business models? Or, is it that the studios themselves are so wrapped-up in responding to changes in the market and fighting to keep out of the red that they are neglecting the talent of tomorrow by failing to contribute to higher education games design and development courses? It may seem harsh to point the finger at either party, but they would probably have to accept that there is a degree of truth in both.
Thankfully, in response to this stalemate, life president of Eidos, Ian Livingstone and co-founder of Double Negative, Alex Hope are leading an Independent Review of Skill for the Video Games Industry being produced by NESTA in collaboration with Skillset. The aim of the review, as identified in an open letter to the games industry workforce from Ian Livingstone, is to “raise the visibility of video games as a buzzing sector full of potential for the brightest graduates, and as source national advantage that the government can’t afford to ignore.”
“But if we are going to convince them to change the way our education system works,” he continues “we need to make as robust a case as we can…As part of this research, we want to speak to you, both as employers, and as members of the video games workforce.”
An online Talent Survey has been created designed to find out what skills and education policies are needed to ensure that the UK can produce the highest calibre graduates. The survey can be completed at www.skillsforgames.com. A separate survey has also been set up specifically for those working in the visual effects industry www.skillsforvfx.com.
“The Skills Review is the starting point for protecting the future of these industries and I urge everyone involved to have their input by taking part in the survey” commented Alex Hope.
The Independent Review of Skill for the Video Games Industry will be published at the end of January 2011 and will contain recommendations for policymakers, education providers and businesses.
I personally hope that you can contribute towards this survey, and that Ian Livingstone, Alex Hope, NESTA and Skillset can ensure that the results can impact government policy not only to allow for a more fluid transition of talent from university to industry, but also to make games development more prevalent in the curriculum at a much earlier level. This might go some way to addressing the significant gender imbalance recently reported which has seen a drop in the proportion of female staff working in the games industry in the UK from 12% in 2006 to 4% last year. This, as a matter of urgency, needs to be addressed.
