Carshalton College has just been accredited as an Authorised Academic Training Centre (AATC) by Autodesk, the world leader in 3d and post production software. Apart from being able to deliver Industry Standard qualifications to their students, Carshalton College are now in the position of acting as a national hub for 3d design training for Media and Entertainment across the UK.

The training centres have led to the establishment of a network of colleges delivering Animation and Games curriculum stretching from Scotland through to Truro. Each of these centres are being offered the opportunity to have staff accredited and then students and local teachers who would then be able to take advantage of the Autodesk Educational Licence agreement and deliver high quality 3d tuition for Animation and Games in their own schools. The aim is to produce a generation of empowered young people with industry standard skills and thus move our creative industry firmly forward within the global field.

Carshalton College’s programme is planned to start in January 2014 with a 10 week introduction to Maya for Games and Animation. Taking place on Saturdays, the course builds to enable all students to undertake the Autodesk Authorised User Certificate. Full time students will now have the qualification imbedded into their mainstream studies, enabling certification for all our Games and Animation students.

In conjunction with this scheme and UKIE, the Carshalton College AATC is organising a National Team Games Development Competition commencing next month for a climax in the first week of February. The competition asks groups of 4 or 5 students to design and create a 3d game level using Autodesk products and an openly available game engine. Currently seven Colleges from around the country have pre entered teams from Fife, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford and Somerset.

For more information about the AATC, joining the Saturday programme or entering the National Team Game Development 2014 competition, please contact Mark Gatehouse mark.gatehouse@carshalton.ac.uk Carshalton College offers a number of BTEC Diplomas in Digital Media/Games allowing students to develop practical skills in digital media production and communication and specialist games development programme.

On Thursday 6 February 2014, Carshalton College will also be hosting the Carshalton STEAM Fair, a celebration of careers and possibilities in the STEAM industries, Science, Technology, Engineering, Animation and Maths, with the chance to - Meet industry professionals - Find out about university courses available - Take part in Exploratory Workshops - View Demonstrations - Talks with keynote speakers talking about cyber security, oil rig engineering, maths, music, animation and special effects - Competitions; 3D Modelling, video and Games competitions with prize giving in the evening Visit www.carshalton.ac.uk for more information Based on information supplied by Maxine Alexander.