TIGA, the trade association representing the UK’s video games industry, has named 14 Staffordshire University graduates amongst the UK’s finest.
Final year students were nominated for the award ‘TIGA Graduate of the Year 2024’ or ‘TIGA Post-Graduate of the Year 2024’ and judges from the TIGA Education Committee reviewed the submissions of the students’ work before announcing the 66 that had earned the accolade for excellence.
The news comes as Staffordshire University is ranked 1st in the UK and 5th in Europe by GAMEducation which recognises schools with the highest employability, and the top student portfolios in video games education.
Professor Chris Headleand, Head of Staffordshire University Games Institute said: “This is our strongest year yet, and I couldn’t be prouder of the students and the department. It’s certainly a fitting way to celebrate our 20 Years of Games anniversary and speaks volumes about the talent and employability of our students who leave us with this to add to their CVs.”
All 14 Staffordshire Graduates are now shortlisted in categories at the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2024 – the winners of which will be announced in a virtual ceremony this autumn. They are:
Graduate of the Year: Artist
Maiying Tsang
August Chamberlain
Toby Brookes
Elliot Crompton
Graduate of the Year: Audio
Declan Shields
Graduate of the Year: Computer Games Technology
Harry Walters
George Humphreys
Graduate of the Year: Designer
Kieran Cookesley
Natasha Taylor
Brad Campbell
Louis Presland
Graduate of the Year: Programmer
Brandon Roberts
Post-graduate of the Year:
Brandon Turner
Amy Wozny
Professor Headleand added: “It’s wonderful to see so many institutions engaged in the awards and producing such high-calibre talent in the games industry. But especially nice that we continue to be top ranked in our discipline, which is a credit to the excellent teaching and the high quality of our curriculum.”
Staffordshire University is also represented in a further five categories at the TIGA awards including the coveted Best Student Game for Midnight Taxi. And the department has been shortlisted for the Innovative Teaching Award; Excellence in Industry Collaboration; Excellence in Games Research and Diversity Award.
Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said:“Each graduate and post-graduate has demonstrated excellent work and clearly has considerable potential. Congratulations to all of our terrific TIGA Graduates and Post-Graduates.
“TIGA would also like to congratulate all of our TIGA accredited courses for working with industry, delivering excellence in education and nominating so many superb students for these TIGA accolades.”
Creative Assembly, the studio behind the Total War series, is the Headline Sponsor of the forthcoming TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2024.