News
October 31st, 2005, 10:20 PM
By Frank Ling, GN Writer
Monday, October 31, 2005
Computer and video game degree-level courses taught in the U.K. will be eligible for the “Kitemark” rating. The regulations and parameters in what constitutes a “Kitemark” certified video game/computer course was established by input from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), the Independent Games Developers Association, and game industry representatives from Sony, Sega, Codemasters, Take Two, Microsoft, Activision, THQ, Rare, Electronic Arts and others. The Kitemark is a certification mark that provides consumers with proof that any particular product or service is compliant with high quality standards.
The idea of setting a “Kitemark” for video game courses was set forth by Skillset, a council for the audio visual industries. Kate O’Connor, director of policy and development at Skillset said, "The priority is on key enduring and transferable skills. The industry has told us they want and need graduates who are flexible and able to adapt to new technologies and we have built this accreditation scheme around those core values looking for courses that focus on skills that transcend technical boundaries."
In a less technocratic statement, Richard Leinfellner, of Electronic Arts said, "Over the years I have seen widely varied content within computer games courses. With many students now taking games courses as an entry point into the industry it is important for us [to] provide guidelines on the types of skills needed to be successful." Leinfellner will be acting as an industry evaluator of courses submitted for Kitemark status.
Mike Rawlinson, deputy director of the ELSPA said of the Kitemark standards, "Skilled people are invaluable in this industry and to ensure a steady supply, with the right mix of skills needed to bolster our businesses, we have to support the education providers. We can do that through Skillset and this accreditation scheme."
Monday, October 31, 2005
Computer and video game degree-level courses taught in the U.K. will be eligible for the “Kitemark” rating. The regulations and parameters in what constitutes a “Kitemark” certified video game/computer course was established by input from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), the Independent Games Developers Association, and game industry representatives from Sony, Sega, Codemasters, Take Two, Microsoft, Activision, THQ, Rare, Electronic Arts and others. The Kitemark is a certification mark that provides consumers with proof that any particular product or service is compliant with high quality standards.
The idea of setting a “Kitemark” for video game courses was set forth by Skillset, a council for the audio visual industries. Kate O’Connor, director of policy and development at Skillset said, "The priority is on key enduring and transferable skills. The industry has told us they want and need graduates who are flexible and able to adapt to new technologies and we have built this accreditation scheme around those core values looking for courses that focus on skills that transcend technical boundaries."
In a less technocratic statement, Richard Leinfellner, of Electronic Arts said, "Over the years I have seen widely varied content within computer games courses. With many students now taking games courses as an entry point into the industry it is important for us [to] provide guidelines on the types of skills needed to be successful." Leinfellner will be acting as an industry evaluator of courses submitted for Kitemark status.
Mike Rawlinson, deputy director of the ELSPA said of the Kitemark standards, "Skilled people are invaluable in this industry and to ensure a steady supply, with the right mix of skills needed to bolster our businesses, we have to support the education providers. We can do that through Skillset and this accreditation scheme."