TIGA, the trade
association representing the UK video games industry, said today that a
modernised Design and Technology curriculum could play a part in underpinning
the rebalancing of the UK economy towards high skilled, export focused
industries.
TIGA made the comments as part of a contribution to a roundtable
discussion on the future of D&T at the Institute of Materials, Minerals and
Mining, in London on May 28th 2012.
Entitled A New Vision for Design and
Technology – How can D&T meet the needs of the Creative Industries, the
roundtable brought together a number of leading creative business thinkers
including Andrew Sedgwick, Global Arts and Culture Business Leader, ARUP,
Richard Green, Chief Executive D&T Association, Professor Frances Corner,
Head of College, London College of Fashion, Catherine Large, CEO, Creative and
Cultural Skills, Katie Stallard, Sky News’ Media and Technology Correspondent,
Adam Mack, Chief Strategy Officer at Weber Shandwick, and Richard Wilson of
TIGA.
The aim of the roundtable is not only to
gauge the importance of D&T in education but also discuss its relevance to
the creative industries. How should a modern D&T curriculum provide a
suitable environment to facilitate the exchanging of knowledge, ideas and
creativity? What are the needs of the creative industries and how can D&T
meet these expectations?
The creative
industries encompasses 13 different sectors: advertising, architecture;
art/antiques; craft; design; designer fashion; film/video/photography;
music/visual performing arts; publishing; software and electronic publishing;
digital and entertainment media; tv and radio. The creative industries account
for 5.1% of all employment (1.5 million) and 5.1% of all companies (106,700).
The creative industries account for 10.6% of the UK’s exports of services.
The UK video games
industry is an important part of the creative industries.The sector:
- is the largest in Europe and makes a contribution
of £1 billion to UK GDP; - provides high skilled employment with 80% of
development staff are qualified to degree level; - is export focused with 95% of studios exporting at
least some of their games; - is set for growth, not least because of TIGA’
successful campaign for a tax credit for video game production, announced in
the March 2012 Budget. This is expected to create 4,660 jobs over the next five
years.
Dr Richard Wilson,
TIGA CEO, said:
“The UK economy needs to be rebalanced towards those high skilled,
export oriented industries where we have a competitive advantage, including
high technology industries, higher education and the creative industries,
including the video games development sector.
“A modernised Design and Technology (D&T) Curriculum can help to
play a part in underpinning this economic rebalancing. D&T should continue
to combine intellectual, practical and technological skills with creative
thinking to design and make products that meet consumer needs.
“However, the D&T curriculum also needs updating. It should be
reformed to meet the needs of a wider range of industries (for example, the
video games sector by the provision of computer programing skills and 2D and 3D
modelling software packages); it should seek to impart key skills including an
introduction to business skills, as well as communication skills and working in
teams; and it must offer strong progression routes so that students can proceed
to achieve a degree or the vocational equivalent.
“If the D&T curriculum is updated to relate to more of the UK’s
growing industries while continuing to involve the application of knowledge,
creativity and critical evaluation, then it will be a valuable subject for
students, employers and the wider UK economy.”