Investment is crucial for continued success of higher education, says TIGA

By September 18, 2012 Press Releases

TIGA, the trade association representing theUK games industry, said today that UK higher education was a success story and
that it was important to invest in the sector to ensure its continued success.
TIGA made the comments following the publication of the Organisation for
Economic Co-Operation and Development’s (OECD) Education at a Glance 2012 report.  

Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said: 

“Higher education contributes to the UK economy in important ways. In
addition to providing industries such as the video games sector with highly
skilled graduates, the sector promotes innovation and knowledge exchange and
new business spin-offs. The sector is estimated to contribute £3.3 billion to
UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP).   

“UK universities educate many overseas students. Indeed, the UK is a
popular destination for international students. They make up 16 per cent of enrolments
in UK
tertiary education. The Coalition Government must be careful to ensure that its
migration policy supports the growth of our universities and colleges and does
not undermine them.  

“The UK also needs to continue to invest in higher education and to
ensure that money is spent effectively. The UK spends 1.3 of GDP on tertiary education
compared to 2.5 per cent in Canada,
2.6 per cent inthe USA
and 2.6 per cent in South Korea.
On average, OECD countries spend 1.6
per cent of GDP on higher education. Overtime the UK will probably need to
increase expenditure on higher education as a proportion of GDP to ensure that
it continues to provide high quality education, research and skilled graduates
for industry.” 

-Ends-  

Notes to editors:

For the OECD Report, see:http://www.oecd.org/edu/eag2012%20(eng)–Ebook%20(FINAL%2011%2009%202012).pdf 

On the value of higher
education to the UK economy, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-19014531 

About TIGA: 

TIGA is the trade association
representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are
either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned
developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies,
technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded
‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade
Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a
finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management
and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the
Year Award (SME)’.

 TIGA is an ‘Investors in People’ accredited organisation.  TIGA's vision is to make the
UK the best place in the world to do games business.  We focus on three
sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and
developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members.  This
means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power,
their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a
material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and
improved commercial opportunities. 

For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.

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