Accolades for outstanding graduates at UK’s No 1 games school

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.”

Design work by Staffordshire University graduate Louis Presland has earned him the accolade TIGA Graduate of the Year 2024 and a place in the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2024.

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.

Tickets for the live recording will go on sale at 10am on Friday 6 September. Tickets cost £4.50 each and will include one complimentary drink (wine, juice, tea, or coffee) upon arrival in Aspects. A parking charge of £4.00 per vehicle will also apply (bookable in advance), but attendees are welcome to arrive earlier in the day to enjoy the 150-acre Arboretum site.

“Whilst caring for the National Memorial Arboretum’s 150-acre estate keeps us incredibly busy, it’s a task that brings our team such pride,” said Paul Johnson, Grounds and Landscape Manager at the National Memorial Arboretum.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming other passionate horticulturists to the Arboretum for this special evening. Even with a wealth of experience at our fingertips, I’m confident that we’ll still pick up some valuable tips and tricks.”

This is a rare opportunity for longstanding fans of BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time to experience the recording of the programme in person at the National Memorial Arboretum.

To learn more about Gardeners’ Question Time coming to the Arboretum and to book tickets, visit: //www.thenma.org.uk/events