‘2012 Action Plan for Jobs’ signals increasing opportunities for LIT-Tipperary’s Games Design graduates

LIT-Tipperary has welcomed the Government’s 2012 Action Plan for Jobs report as positive news for Ireland's digital game sector and the college’s future Games Design graduates. The report, published this week identifies specific actions and key opportunities for growing this important export industry. Games designers and developers will be particularly interested in the government’s focus on Ireland as a global centre for digital games intellectual property.  Industry professionals, academics and students from colleges across the country will congregate for the annual Games Fleadh at LIT-Tipperary in March to discuss this milestone report and their role in its implementation.

The report highlights Ireland’s supportive intellectual property regime and availability of research and development tax credits as key to doubling games industry employment within the next two years, a key ministerial goal and measure of success.

Ireland has become something of a hub for the gaming industry over the last few years and important industry players such as Demonware, Zynga, PopCap Games and Jolt are just some of the big names that have established a presence in Ireland in recent times, while the number of independent digital game developers has grown 200% within the past two years, aided by Enterprise Ireland's high potential start-up support. This report highlights an industry development policy that will allow Ireland to differentiate itself globally.

LIT-Tipperary has developed its honours degree in Games Design and Development to produce graduates capable of satisfying the growing demand (both globally and nationally) for graduates for this sector. Offered at LIT’s Thurles campus, the level 8 honours degree in Games Design and Development has been developed in collaboration with games industry professionals, thus ensuring graduates’ skills are directly transferable to the workplace.  Currently, demand for graduates in computer games, digital media and software design is exceeding the supply available. Furthermore, start-up games company ‘Nevermind Games’ will soon take up residence in the new Thurles Community Enterprise Centre, based at LIT-Tipperary’s Thurles campus.

Commenting on this week’s announcement, Colin McLean, Head of School at LIT-Tipperary said “LIT-Tipperary views design and development of digital media including games as key to achieving the national goals outlined in this report, our students will play a key role in developing the sector."

The forthcoming Games Fleadh event at LIT-Tipperary in March will feature an industry panel discussion to determine key actions to deliver on digital games export growth thereby growing the industry and creating jobs. For further information on the event, visit www.gamesfleadh.ie. Check out the Games Design and Development programme at www.lit.ie/tipperary.

For further information, contact Ann McBride, Schools Liaison Officer, LIT-Tipperary