More focus is needed on ICT and computer science skills development, says government
Government publishes its response to the Next Gen report.
Teaching needs reform to better reflect the changing role of technology and to engage the computer scientists of the future, the Government says in its response to an independent review of skills (“Next Gen”) for the UK’s video games and visual effects (VFX) sectors.
Commissioned by Ed Vaizey, the Next Gen review provided an important contribution to the evidence base for the skills needs of these industries, which included 20 recommendations for Government. The response published today addresses each recommendation and goes on to say that through its curriculum and exam reforms, the Government will look to pave the way for the sector to help schools offer pupils a genuinely rigorous grounding in computer science.
Skills for growth
“The economic and cultural value of the UK’s video games and VFX sectors is clear and the long-term potential of their global markets present a great opportunity for UK-based businesses,” said Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey.
“It is an industry that has real potential to create the high quality jobs of the future that will be so important as we recover from the recession. We need to invest in talent that will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of games creativity.”
The key themes of Next Gen resonate far beyond video games and VFX: many of the skills demanded by these employers are equally desired in the much wider economy, from the digital and creative economy of business software, telecoms and social media to the cutting edge of engineering and design. Ensuring the UK has a strong supply of the skills described in Next Gen will help realise the full potential of these industries.
Further information
- Full news release
- Government’s response to the Next Gen review
- Next Gen. review published (February 2011)
- ‘The state of play’, guest blog by Ian Livingston (November 2010)