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"Building Equitable and Sustainable Game Development Education" Workshop led by Kenzie Gordon (University of Alberta), Dr. Sean Gouglas (University of Alberta), Dr. Alison Harvey (York University), Vishal Sooknananl (Western University), Dr. Johanna Weststar (Western University), and Dr. Jennifer Whitson (University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ). 

  With recent waves of layoffs, high-profile workplace harassment cases, and a notoriously short career length for gender minorities and people of colour, the transition of new workers into the game industry involves navigating a spate of barriers to equity and success that have been understudied in academic research. The First Three Years is an ongoing longitudinal study of graduates of game programs in Canada and the United States, following the journey of 207 students as they move into the game industry. In this workshop, our research team will summarise the primary challenges students have identified in their game programs. This summary includes equity and diversity issues inherent in common curricular practices such as the efficacy of capstone courses and internships, the inclusion of crunch-like practices in the classroom, the systematic failure to inform students of actual workplace conditions, and the mismatch between student preparation and industry hiring practices. Afterwards, participants will address whether/how these problems manifest in their own institutions, and what solutions might improve equity outcomes for students seeking careers in games.

Calling All Creative Minds!

Welcome to the MVP Challenge, a one-day design + business challenge for high school students, hosted by the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.

Are you passionate about design, creativity, and pushing boundaries? Look no further. Showcase your creative thinking and problem-solving skills as you work with a group to develop and pitch your next great idea.

M¾±²Ô¾±³¾³Ü³¾ÌýV¾±²¹²ú±ô±ðÌýProduct - Your MVP is the thing that makes your idea stand out!

Learn about the Master of Digital Experience Innovation degree program on September 26, 2024.

A one-day design + business challenge for Grade 12 students, hosted at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.

Students will showcase their work and discuss their approach to the 2025 Service Design Challenge, an international competition focused on service design for global issues. This year, they collaborated with IBM mentors to create innovative products and services that support sustainable development and equitable progress. Join us on April 4 to see firsthand the skills and knowledge our students have developed.