London College of Communication has been granted £158,354 from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to develop The Games Fusion Project, in partnership with Queen Mary University of London.
The Games Fusion Project will combine the strengths of London College of Communication with Queen Mary University of London, and involve a range of professional bodies and industry partners, in the design of a new curriculum model that will create industry-ready graduates in Games Design.
Larra Anderson, LCC’s Dean of Screen explains:
“The work we will be able to do with the support of HEFCE, our partnership with Queen Mary University of London, and the guidance of industry partners will have a truly positive impact on our students. We are delighted to have been recognised for our commitment to designing curriculum that is innovative, career-focused and relevant for students entering the UK creative industries.
“We’re working with some really exciting industry partners including UKIE, TIGA, Women in Games, and BKSTS. These games organisations are the top in the country and their support as partners in this project is invaluable.
“HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund has enabled this wonderful opportunity to shape a new model for games design education that specifically targets the skills gap currently found in industry, and will further establish LCC’s standing as one of the forefront educators of the next generation of global creatives.”
HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund ‘for closing the skills gap and supporting the Industrial Strategy through curriculum development’ highlights the need for ‘Leadership for New Futures’, specifically around targeted support and innovative partnerships to address post-Brexit opportunities and challenges.
Over 30 universities and colleges in England have been awarded a share of £6.1 million by HEFCE to develop new and enhanced higher education courses. Working with employers, the projects will help provide the skills needed in the future economy and support the aims of the Industrial Strategy.
The Government’s Industrial Strategy places the Creative Industries as one of the five key sectors for the country’s growth post-Brexit. The games industry was worth $150bn globally in 2017, and is forecast to be worth $200bn globally by 2021. The Games Fusion Project both addresses the industry’s shortage in ‘work-ready’ skills from graduates, and recognises the need to move quickly to fully exploit the games sector’s huge potential.
Groups of second year students from LCC’s BA (Hons) Games Design and QMUL’s School of Engineering and Materials Science, will come together to work on industry-designed and professional body-supported, creative and technical, projects that replicate the multi-disciplinary teams and production pipelines found in the games industry.
- Find out more about BA (Hons) Games Design
- Find out more about LCC’s Screen School