Norwich University College of Arts sign-up

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today announced Norwich University College of Arts as its newest member.

Norwich University College of Art offers a Bachelor of Arts in Games Art and Design. The course combines a professional vocational focus with the opportunity for academic progression. Students are taught a range of 2D and 3D applications for games and digital arts, this includes development for the iPhone, as well as traditional art and design skills.

The University puts emphasis on collaboration with professionals from the games sector and provides opportunities for work placements and/or live briefs in collaboration with the commercial sector. Representatives from EA, Codemasters, Sony Computer Entertainment, Ninja Theory and TIGA have all given advice that informed the curriculum.

Marie Claire Isaaman, Course Leader, explains her vision for the course: “At NUCA we teach the core art and design skills that students require to go on to work in the games industry. However we also encourage our students to look at games beyond entertainment and view games as art and part of a wider digital society. We encourage our students to look at alternatives to big studio development, and teach them the skills they need to challenge and innovate.”

“We are joining TIGA to further deepen our connections in the industry and plan to work alongside TIGA on areas such as skills and games education.”

Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO welcomes the company to TIGA: “TIGA is committed to improving collaboration and communication between the industry and education. Norwich University College of Arts is a great example of an academic institution that is wholly committed to imbuing their students with the skills to not only work in the industry, but also to innovate, challenge and potentially shape the industry in the future.”

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 games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’.

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 .