Tiga calls on UK to promote maths and science education

Tiga has called for the UK government to take more action that promotes the education of science and maths in schools and universities.

The industry body says that more needs to be done to attract good teachers into schools and called for tuition fee subsidies for mathematics and computer science students. Tiga further said that a reversal of the cuts in computer science funding should be carried out and argued for the establishment of a the Games Education Fund to promote industry-university links.

"If the UK video games industry is to maintain its competitive edge then we must address the skills shortages hampering the industry," said Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga.

"We need to improve standards in mathematics and the sciences in schools in order to increase the potential pool of graduates in these disciplines. Stronger financial incentives to attract the best graduates to teach in schools are part of the solution."

"In higher education, tuition fees for mathematics and computer science students should be reduced in order to increase the supply of graduates in these areas," Wilson commented. "Additionally, our universities must be adequately funded. Cuts in computer science courses should be reversed. Students need up to date equipment and software."

"We need to strengthen industry-university links in the games industry," he added. "The establishment of a Tiga managed Games-Education Fund would achieve this objective. Deploying the Fund to promote industrial secondments, research fellowships, education outreach and knowledge transfer programmes, and excellence in teaching would not only strengthen links between developers and academia. Ultimately it would help to enhance the competitiveness of the UK games development sector."