Dr Paul Sant and Mark Hooper
The Benefits of National Trade Association-accredited Courses: A Case Study of Train2Game and TIGA
Introduction
Most prospective students when making a decision on what course to take look at the level of credibility and standing presented by the trainer. This helps determine the level of quality they should expect. Printed and online materials are often the first point of contact and marks of quality are essential to engage prospective clients. Perhaps the most important of these measures of quality are trade endorsements – as a marketing tool, endorsements of any kind provide weight to a product or service, raising its profile and engendering trust within the purchaser. Some endorsements can be regarded as a gimmick, however, trade endorsements are recognised as a sign of backing of the highest order; when industry sector experts back a relevant product then we consider it to be following industry guidelines and of the up most quality.
Benefits of endorsed courses
With the number of courses now available within the IT sector it is essential to assess accurately which course is best suited to your needs. Obviously the course content descriptors are a good place to start; they should provide in depth detail on exactly what is covered on the course. You will also need to ensure you understand fully the duration of the course, your obligation to complete the material and the total cost before making a decision. Once you have a good understanding of what is involved you should be looking to find out whether the trainer’s claims match reality.The training sector does attract providers that range in quality, so investigate to ensure there are plenty of endorsements of their products. Useful endorsements to consider are feedback from previous clients: whether on the trainer’s website or on group chat forums people’s opinion on services provided is invaluable. In additional to these the most important endorsements are those that come from authoritative bodies within the sector. These include accreditation and certification organisations and industry trade associations. Endorsements from these organisations are important as they are indicators of trust in a product from recognised and respected authorities. Having these high profile endorsements helps raise the profile of the product so that it becomes widely recognised within the industry sector. They can then become the de facto must have qualifications for sector professionals. Having a widely recognised professional qualification increases your employability and future prospects, essentially the higher the profile of the course the more attractive to an employer you will be.
What is Tiga?
Tiga is the national trade association representing the business and commercial interests of games software developers in the UK and Europe. Tiga acts as an interface between industry and UK and European Government departments and Ministers on issues of the sector. Tiga has developed relationships with BERR, Treasury, Inland Revenue, UKTI, DCMS, DIUS, and the Home Office. As with any trade association, it is dedicated to ensuring continued success and raising further the profile of the UK within the industry sector.1With over 130 members making all or parts of video games, Tiga is dedicated to ensuring support on best practice is available and its special interests group. The Tiga Technology Group is focussed on the needs of excellence in the use of technology within the games development industry.2
What is the link between the Train2Game courses and Tiga?
As the UK games industry’s Trade Association, Tiga recognises that there is a shortage of skills in the games sector and believe that the new Train2Game courses provide a solution and fully support the professionally developed material stating that “We believe that the TIGA Diplomas delivered by Train2Game will become one of the key routes for entrance into the games industry.”3
Why are trade associations and professional bodies needed?
Professional bodies and trade associations are founded and funded by businesses. Their main roles are to represent the interests of professional practitioners and to safeguard public interest. Acting as an industrial leader spearheading development, supporting Research & Development and shaping policy with government they are critical to ensuring an effective trading environment.Membership provides unique opportunities for businesses and individuals to establish their place in the market. Conferences, trade shows, networking events and training seminars all support the building of collaborative relationships critical to successful businesses.The activities that the associations support to bring industry members together also provide the opportunity to facilitate the setting of best practice and industry standards, drawing expertise from different areas for the common good of their members. Recognising best practice within individual businesses and by individual practitioners and endorsing products and services that meet agreed standards is a valuable service to both the business and their clients.
What are the skills are there are shortage of in the games industry?
Over the past decade there has been increased interest from students to enter the computer games industry, however there is a distinct shortage of suitable graduates which has hampered the growth of the industry4. The Train2Game courses have been developed to help make the industry more accessible with flexible learning for entry level students.Of course it is not just academic qualifications that employers are looking for, but also soft skills such as good communication and team working. It is also important to realise that within the games industry there is a wide range of opportunities available, e.g. programmers, animators, designers and product managers. Each of these different roles will require different skills, but as a general starting point Tiga’s Careers Guide 2009 5 lists a number of skills that employers are looking for, and these are summarised below.
Academic qualifications
Soft skills
Creativity
Problem solving
Communication skills
Team player
These soft skills are key to successful entry into the industry but of course, there are also skills that are specific to a job role (such as, for example, a games programmer) and the Tiga document provides an excellent overview of the skills and requirements for a number of key roles within the games industry, including: games designer, artist, animator, programmer, audio and producer. In addition, there is information about the career path for each role and the personal skills that employers are looking for.If you would like further information about the skills required for your chosen career, please see the Tiga Careers Guide5.
Benefits of including endorsed courses within the curriculum (meeting industry requirements)
As a new student, or maybe even as a potential student, you are likely to have chosen a course (or be in the process of choosing one). It is now quite common for students to spend a significant amount of time analysing the different courses available, and evaluating which is the best for them. Of course studying for a University degree, and making a decision on which one to choose, is not easy. Over the past few years we have seen an increase in the number of University courses that are endorsed by industry bodies and regulators. Such endorsements can give students confidence that the course that they have chosen has been guided by useful information about what the games industry is looking for, and that the core skills and requirements of industry have been incorporated into their chosen degree course. In addition, the incorporation of endorsed courses, such as Train2Game’s developer and designer courses6 into accredited University courses allow students to gain practical hands-on experience and qualifications that are recognised both academically and professionally. The Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Bedfordshire has recognised the value of integrating these courses and believe that they indicate to employers that their students have the skills that the games industry is demanding – in today’s increasingly competitive world, getting one step ahead is vital!
Conclusion
Over the past decade we have seen a vast increase in the number of computer games available on the market, and also in the skills requirements needed to enter employment within the games industry. It is no longer enough to have the creativity, productivity and desire to work in the industry, it is now a requirement that you have a degree, and more importantly, that you have the skills that the industry requires. Tiga and Train2Game have therefore been set up to help and guide those who are interested in working within the games industry. They aim to enable potential employees to identify the skill set required, the career progression and opportunities available within their chosen area, and they also offer training that will provide invaluable experience. So, if you are interested in a career in the games industry why not go and check out Tiga and Train2Game and take the first steps to a successful new career.
References
1. What is Tiga? Available at: http://www.tiga.org/ [Accessed 30th April 2009].
2. About us. Available at: http://www.tiga.org/index.php?action=showAboutUs [Accessed 30th April 2009].
3. Tiga and Train2Game – FAQ, Available at: http://www.tiga.org/index.php?action=showPartner [Accessed 1st May 2009].
4. Working with Government on education. Available at: http://www.gamesup.co.uk/Skills.html [Accessed 6th May 2009].
5. Tiga Careers Guide 2009. Available at: http://www.tiga.org/uploads/documents/careers_guide09highres-V3.pdf [Accessed 5th May 2009].Train2game designer and developer courses, Available at: http://www.train2game.com/ [Accessed 5th May 2009].
