24/06/08 Cambridge Evening News

Gaming degrees are falling short

VIDEO games degrees in this country are just not fit for the purpose, with the vast majority of universities failing to equip students with the skills needed to build a career.

The allegation comes from leading figures in the industry, who are calling on the Government to work with them to address the problem in order to save one of the country's most lucrative sectors.

Prime mover in the Games Up? campaign is David Braben, chairman of Frontier Development in Cambridge, a leading games company.

Cambridge is an important cluster in the sector, with a number of leading names based here.

Mr Braben said: "The games development sector is a jewel in the crown of the UK economy made up of a large number of creative and highly-skilled people. However, we are facing a serious decline in the quality of graduates looking to come into the industry.

"The dearth of maths, physics and computer science graduates is hitting us hard along with other core UK industries.

The problem is compounded by the quality of socalled specialist games degree courses, 95% of which are simply not fit for purpose.

"Without some sort of common standard, like Skillset accreditation, these degrees are a waste of time for all concerned."

Jamie Macdonald, VP worldwide studios, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, said: "We want to work with government to help equip our graduates with the skills they need to thrive in one of the most dynamic and profitable industries in the world.

"We are willing to work closely to support centres of excellence as finishing schools for graduates and provide work experience via a government-assisted internship programme.

"We can also play a vital role in encouraging younger students to persist with so-called harder subjects such as maths and science, which are also needed by financial services and other sectors, by showing that aspirational careers in video gaming are achievable."

He added that while few seven-year-olds would be excited at the prospect of a career as an actuary, more might be attracted by a career in video gaming.

The campaigners say there are just four accredited courses, at Abertay, Dundee, where there are two, at the University of West Scotland; and the Glamorgan Centre for Art & Design Technology.