14 DAY TRIAL // Epic Games partners with Staffordshire University in order to create the Epic Games Centre, a unique collaboration effort between the academic and game industry worlds.
Epic Games has announced the partnership initiative, hailing it as a unique occurrence. The Epic Games Centre is a fully equipped space designed for the university's students to use for their game design courses.
The partnership agreement will enable the close cooperation between Epic, the university staff and game design students, in an effort to provide students with insight on how the industry works and evolves.
Staffordshire University now has around 500 students pursuing game design courses, of which the university currently offers eight, and its alumni have successfully been employed in the industry, working for various studios both in UK and Europe, as well as in the U.S.
“There's a lot of talk about the need for the industry to get more involved with the academic process and have a greater input into how games design is taught,” said Mike Gamble, European territory manager at Epic Games.
“This collaboration will enable Staffs students to have a direct link with Epic and a direct line to the heart of the industry,” he further commented.
“We have many great courses here at Staffs but this partnership will give our students a deeper understanding of how theory is put into practice and a greater understanding of the commercial complexities of the development process,” said Dr. Bobbie Fletcher, head of the Games Technology Group at Staffordshire University.
The agreement is initially set for two years, during which Epic will provide hardware, teaching time and access to software and key personnel, focusing mainly on its Unreal Engine technology.
The Epic Games Centre will play host to Epic Developer Days, where professional Unreal Engine users will be present, with the first licensee events set to debut this spring.
