Partnership is next level for Middlesbrough College games design students

Budding games designers, animators and visual effects experts at Middlesbrough College are set to learn from some of the biggest names in the business.

A new partnership means the College has become part of the NextGen Skills Academy – a ground-breaking scheme that matches creative industry employers with educators.

Middlesbrough College is just one of 14 in the country to be a NextGen partner, and will now offer a cutting edge course for learners hungry for a career in the games design, animation and visual effects industries.

Lex Notman, curriculum team leader for Creative Media and Games Design at Middlesbrough College, explained: “Our partnership with NextGen is a game-changer for students.

“Where traditionally courses were designed by academics, NextGen flips that on its head and puts employers – some of the biggest names in the creative media sector – in the driving seat.

“It means the course will give students the skills and knowledge that employers are asking for, and the practical experience and portfolio to boot.”

The two-year NextGen Level 3 Extended Diploma in Games, Animation and VFX Skills will see companies such as Sony and Ubisoft come to Middlesbrough College to deliver industry insights and learning sessions.

Worth an equivalent of three A Levels, the Diploma is aimed at 16-18 year-olds, but options are available for adults.

Students will also benefit from a substantial investment in digital equipment across the College’s dedicated creative media suites, including new virtual reality capabilities and top of the range editing computers.

Lex added: “It’s fantastic that we’ve brought the NextGen Skills Academy to Teesside – an important centre of creative media production in the UK.

“There is a huge demand for talent in the industry, and particularly for more diversity.

“For instance, globally, just 21 per cent of games developers are female. At Middlesbrough College we’re really keen to play a part in rebalancing that figure, and we want to encourage more women to consider a career in games design and the wider creative media sector.

NextGen’s industry-led approach means students leave college ready for the workplace or a higher apprenticeship or degree programme.

Middlesbrough College is still enrolling for the NextGen course starting this September. For more information contact Middlesbrough College on 01642 333333.