Leeds College of Art signing

May 4, 2010

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today announced Leeds College of Art as its newest member.

Leeds College of Art is a specialist college offering courses in art and design. The college has a strong vocational approach that aims to channel student creativity toward future success. The college offers two courses aimed specifically at students looking to work in the games industry: A Foundation Degree in Digital Film, Games & Animation (two years, full time) and a BA (Hons) Top-Up Degree in Digital Film, Games and Animation (one year,

full time).

Michael Smith, Course Leader explains: “Our Digital Film, Games and Animation courses equip students with the broad range of skills needed to work in the computer games sector. As well as developing strong technical skills, students learn how to address related issues and problems in an independent way, across a diverse range of platforms.”

On joining TIGA Michael adds: “We joined TIGA to develop contacts and establish relationships between the games industry and our students and to ensure that our curriculum was industrially and vocationally relevant. We are particularly enthusiastic about cross platform story telling in all its guises be it through Games, Film, Animation or indeed interactive storytelling on the web.

“We would like to see TIGA continue to forge links between education and the industry. We are an institution striving to help graduates develop skills that are cross transferable and have longevity, and not just provide students with skills that are required today. It is the graduates of today that will be the innovators of tomorrow and without allowing them the space and opportunity to take risks and learn form their mistakes we are at risk of stifling youthful enthusiasm, entrepreneurial spirit and raw talent.

“At Leeds College of Art we also feel passionate about encouraging woman to enter the games industry and hope that our course can go some way to achieve that. As a result of our new course title, direction and ethos our application and acceptance rates from young women has increased substantially from previous years.”

Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO adds: “TIGA is committed to improving communication between educators and industry. In our view this is key to the long-term success of the British games industry. We hope to work closely with the Leeds College of Art to promote collaboration between the college and our member base.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

About TIGA:

TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership.

TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.

For further information, please contact Eva Field, TIGA PR Manager on: 07814 039 983, or email eva@tiga.org.