Nuke goes to college

Following the publication of the fairly damning Next-Gen report, which was highly critical of the vfx training received by most vfx students in the UK, Skillset is launching a series of initiatives and awards to improve the quality of talent entering the vfx industries from UK universities.
 
Skillset has teamed up with The Foundry for one of the initiatives, to provide a number of Skillset Media Academies and accredited courses with Nuke software licence and training packages.

“The first step to creating better talent for the industry is to ensure professional standard tools and training are available to both tutors and students,” explains Skillset’s computer games, animation, and facilities manager, Saint John Walker.

A three year Nuke licence will be provided to Ravensbourne (pictured), Glamorgan, Swansea, Falmouth, Ulster, Bradford and Teesside Universities, and the University of Hertfordshire.

This is the first of five Skillset initiatives, with others including further training for university staff and a range of vfx modules designed with input from some of the UK’s biggest vfx companies, to help push up standards. The funds for these initiatives come through Skillset’s Film Fund, which is derived from Lottery money through the British Film Institute.