Skillset wants "energetic approach" from industry
Applications for accreditation "have now completely stopped"
With the quality of British games degree courses under the spotlight, Skillset's executive director for policy and development, Kate O'Connor, has revealed that following the accreditation of four courses in the UK further applications have dried up completely.
Speaking in a panel session looking at the state of training and education in the UK games sector, she explained that the industry now needed "an energetic approach" to the problem to encourage more institutions to sign up.
"UCAS statistics show something like 270 different degrees with games in the title, but a more detailed search shows something 80 degrees that have real relevance to undergraduate and postgraduate skills for the games industry," she said.
"We were quite surprised to see that not only didn't the applications flood through, but they trickled and have now completely stopped in terms of those we've received.
"Only four institutions have received the industry Kite-mark so far - three in Scotland and one in Wales, so far there are no games industry-approved courses in England - although I have to say there are some animation courses that have been Kite-marked.
"What we would like to see now is an energetic approach to promoting the Kite-mark that that industry has developed, that the industry supports, that the industry has spent time promoting.
"I would like a push to support the higher education institutions - this isn't about degree-bashing, it's about providing incentives for higher education to work more closely with the industry," she added.
Industry figures such as Frontier Developments chairman David Braben and the head of EA's global talent brand Matthew Jeffery have previously expressed their concerns over the strength of courses, and whether or not graduates are being equipped with the right skills to earn a place in the UK's interactive entertainment workforce.
Skillset's aim is to try and make sure that they are, and has worked with the industry closely in identifying the issues - Skillset accreditation for a higher education course is designed to highlight for prospective students those courses to which the industry gives its full backing.