Bridging the Gap between Games Educators and Industry
Ko-Host, National Videogame Museum
Castle House, Castlegate, Sheffield S3 8LN
Monday 15th – Tuesday 16th April 2019
We’re delighted to welcome a fantastic range of guests to this year’s conference. Here’s our full schedule with confirmed speakers
Day 1 (Monday 15 April)
1300: Registration opens
1400: Welcome from the Chair
Rick Gibson, CEO, BGI
1405-1420 Keynote
Ian Livingstone CBE
1420-1445 Ethical Course Design
Balancing industry-demands and student employability in course design
Dr Jake Habgood from Sheffield Hallam University
1445-1530 Best Practice Educators Panel
Games educators share their pedagogical approaches, successes, challenges and ambitions
Nia Wearn from Staffordshire University
Sharon Tolaini-Sage from Norwich University of the Arts
Geoff Moore from Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies
Moderated by Dr Jake Habgood from Sheffield Hallam University
1530-1545 Break
1545-1630 Industry trends and best practice panel
Studio heads from console, mobile and PC studios share thoughts on how games development has changed over the past 10 years and how they work with FEIs/HEIs
Mike Gamble from Epic Games
Emma Smith from Creative Assembly
Tim Jones from Rebellion
Melissa Jo Knox from Rare
Moderated by Philip Oliver, GameDragons
1630-1715 Higher Education requirements of the sector
What do educators need from industry and how do they work with the sector?
Dr Charlie Hargood from Bournemouth University
Dr Peter Howell from Portsmouth University
Federico Fasce from Goldsmiths
Dr Carlo Harvey from Birmingham City University
Dr Umran Ali from Salford University
Moderated by Rick Gibson. BGI
1715-1730 Keynote
Mike Gamble, Epic Games
1730-1740 Closing statement from the Chair
1740-1900 Drinks reception at the National Videogame Museum
Day 2 (Tuesday 16 April)
0830: Registration opens
0920: Welcome from the Chair
0920-0935: Keynote
Dr Chris Lowthorpe from the London College of Communication: The Future of Games Education
0935-1015 Skills and Employability industry panel
HR leads in studios and agencies debate skills requirements and graduate employability today and in future
Karen McLaughlin from Sumo Digital
Rob Murray from Dovetail Games
David Smith from Interactive Selection
Nick Duncombe from Playground Games
Meg Daintith from Codemasters
Moderated by Ian Goodall from Aardvark Swift
1020-1055 Employment or Entrepreneurship Panel
A discussion about the pros and cons of starting up games companies straight from University versus winning a studio job
Mark Eyles from TIGA
Chris Headleand from Lincoln University
Dr Doug Brown from Falmouth University
Dr Oliver Williams from Birmingham City University
Dr Michael Scott from Falmouth University
Moderated by Philip Oliver, GameDragons
1055-1110 Break
1110-1150 Accessibility and diversity panel
Trends, requirements and issues facing FEIs / HE|Is and employers around diversity, gender identity, accessibility and inclusiveness.
Sharon Tolaini-Sage from Norwich University
Melissa Jo Knox from Rare
Harinder Sangha from Sumo Digital
Rob Murray from Dovetail Games
Nick Duncombe from Playground Games
Moderated by Marie-Claire Isaaman from Women in Games
1150-1240 Improving the talent pipeline (part 1)
How Industry involvement in FE and Apprenticeships improve the talent pipeline; Part 1 – The first Level 3 Diploma designed by industry
Ant Cain from Sunderland College
James Bennett-Hill from The Sheffield College
Alison Brown from Teesside University
Amy Smith from Framestore
Karen Hedger from AIM Awards
Moderated by Marcia Deakin, NextGen Skills Academy
1240 – 1315 Lunch
1315-1400 Improving the talent pipeline (part 2)
How Industry involvement in FE and Apprenticeships improve the talent pipeline; Part 2 – Designing, delivering and assessing the new Apprenticeships standards
Claire Timpany from Rebellion
Amy Smith from Framestore
Simon Deveraux from The Mill
Marcia Deakin, NextGen Skills Academy
Moderated by Karen Hedger from AIM Awards
1400-1445 The state of games education
A strategic discussion about how industry and FEIs/HEIs collaborate and plan in the long term
Dr Chris Windmill from Derby University
Chris Payton from Rebellion
Dan Wood from UKIE
Professor Ruth Falconer from Abertay University
Moderated by Dr Chris Lowthorpe from London College of Communication
1445-1500 Break
1500-1600 Wrap-up panel
A reflection on the key issues discussed at the Summit with closing thoughts from key speakers
Dr Jake Habgood from Sheffield Hallam University
Ian Goodall from Aardvark Swift
Alan O’Dea from Staffordshire University
Mark Eyles from TIGA
Marcia Deakin from NextGen Skills Academy
Moderated by Rick Gibson, BGI
1600-1610 Closing statement from the Chair
1700 Close