UKIE to lead Next Gen Skills coalition
Initiative will implement recommendations of Livingstone-Hope report
UKIE will take the lead in the formation of a cross-industry coalition to implement the recommendations of the Livingstone-Hope "Next Gen" report.
The Next Gen report highlighted a lack of computer science skills in the UK, and was recently discussed by Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture Communications and Creative Industries, on the BBC current affairs programme Newsnight.
The Next Gen Skills coalition will be composed of organisations with an interest in improving the UK's digital industries. UKIE will announce the first supporters over the next few weeks.
"I am delighted to see a cross-industry coalition coming together to support the recommendations in 'Next Gen', particularly the teaching of more relevant computing skills within the education system," said games industry veteran Ian Livingstone, who co-authored the report.
"This is a long term project which will ultimately benefit all UK creative and digital companies. Transforming the UK into the world's leading talent hub for the games industry and all other digital industries also sends an important message to companies considering inward investment here."
Google chairman Larry Schmidt also criticised the absence of computer sciences from the UK curriculum in his recent MacTaggart lecture. Schmidt said he was "flabbergasted" that the country would "throw away its great computer heritage."