Norwich Uni games course gets Skillset approval

The BA Games Art and Design course at Norwich University College of the Arts has received official accreditation from Creative Skillset, the industry body that supports skills and training for people in the creative industries.

Skillset accredited courses are endorsed by industry panels in recognition of their links to the creative sectors and track record in securing employment for their graduates.

Norwich’s inclusion now brings the total number of Skillset accredited games courses in the UK to 14. Those courses exist at just ten higher education institutes so far.

“This great news for NUCA. The award is a fantastic achievement and confirms that its BA (Hons) in Games Art and Design is relevant to the industry’s needs and will help produce the kinds of skilled, talented graduates who are the lifeblood of the UK’s creative sector,” said Media Molecule producer Martin Lynagh.

NUCA assistant principal and dean of media Keith Bartlett added: “NUCA has put in a lot of work to attain Creative Skillset accreditation for our media and graphics courses in order to demonstrate our commitment to preparing students for the world of work. All our courses are dual focused on creativity and professionalism, which is shown by the strong reputation our graduates gain among employers.

“We achieve this by working closely with industry representatives on curriculum development and providing students with a high amount of face-time with creative professionals through project briefs, feedback sessions and guest lectures.

“All the accredited courses will now benefit from increased recognition among the top brands in their respective industries which will improve the student experience and their options upon graduation.”

Four other media courses have also been received Skillset accreditation at NUCA, they include its undergraduate degree courses in Film and Moving Image Production, Photography and Graphic Design, as well as its MA in Moving Image and Sound.

The Creative Skillset accreditation scheme was devised in consultation with the creative industries and education providers. Accreditation is based on rigorous assessment by industry professionals and recognises practice-based courses that provide students with all the technical and production skills, experience and abilities they need to succeed in the workplace.