TIGA reveals shortlist for UK Games Education Awards 2023

TIGA, the trade association representing the UK’s video games industry, has revealed the shortlist for the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023.

These awards recognise outstanding students, education providers and best practice.

The winners of the 12 categories will be announced in a virtual ceremony on Friday September 29^th 2023, together with the winner of a special award that will be revealed during the programme.

Creative Assembly, the studio behind the Total War series and new FPS title Hyenas, is the headline sponsor of the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023. As a multi-award winner for their education work, Creative Assembly utilises the skills and passions of 850 employees to provide industry outreach to students across the globe.

The Awards are further supported by: Gold sponsor Sumo Group, the award winning international family of game development studios; and Bronze sponsor, Lockwood Publishing.

Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said: “The TIGA Education Awards shortlist highlights leaders in games education: outstanding students, excellent providers and good practice in education. Thank you to Creative Assembly, our headline sponsor, Sumo Group, our Gold Sponsor and Lockwood Publishing, our Bronze Sponsor, for supporting excellence in skills and learning, and for making the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023 possible. We look forward to revealing the crème de la crème when we announce the winners of the Awards on September 29^th.”

Sophie Bryan, Head of HR, Creative Assembly, said: “We are pleased to sponsor yet another year of the TIGA UK Games Education Awards and to present the Creative Assembly Best Student Game Award. It is an opportunity to support and promote excellence in games education which is a priority for our Legacy Project education outreach work. Each year, through the awards, we see an incredible calibre of students and educational practice and this year is no different; congratulations to all shortlisted.”

Christina Haralambous, Group Director of Communications & Marketing, Sumo Group, said: “Sumo Group is delighted to be sponsoring the TIGA UK Games Education Awards for 2023. Nurturing, supporting and celebrating future talent, and those that help educate that talent, is important to continue to move our industry forward. Congratulations to all those on the shortlist for these prestigious awards.”

Halli Bjornsson, CEO of Lockwood Publishing, said: “The TIGA Games Education Awards recognise achievements and spur further progress in education and skills. Congratulations to all of our finalists and I look forward to seeing the winners.”

TIGA’s charity partner for the Games Education Awards 2023 is The Passage. The Passage’s vision is of a society where street homelessness no longer exists and where everyone has a place to call home.  Founded in 1980, The Passage provides practical support and a wide range of services to help transform the lives of people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness.  Guided by their Vincentian values, The Passage offers their clients resources and solutions to prevent or end their homelessness for good. The charity runs a modern Resource Centre in London, helping people to find routes to employment, benefits and stable accommodation; four residential projects, outreach and health services and homelessness prevention schemes.

TIGA GAMES EDUCATION AWARDS 2023 SHORTLIST

OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: ARTIST

1. Abertay University: Daniel Tolland
2. Birmingham City University: Joseph Gordon
3. Norwich University of the Arts: George Kee
4. Norwich University of the Arts: Salene Tarling
5. Staffordshire University: Megan-Louise Morris
6. Staffordshire University: Aaron Burnhope
7. University of Gloucestershire: Sam Carrier
8. University of Hertfordshire: Maxine Lugg
9. University of Hertfordshire: Diana Karakushyan
10. University of Portsmouth: Victoria Primmer

OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: AUDIO

1. Birmingham City University: Zih-Syuan Yang
2. Norwich University of the Arts: Rhys Anthony
3. Staffordshire University: Felype Goncalves Fernandes
4. University of Portsmouth: Antti Liakka 

OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: COMPUTER GAMES TECHNOLOGY

1. Abertay University: Rhys Duff
2. Abertay University: Justin Syfrig
3. Birmingham City University: Nadia Nadeem
4. Bournemouth University: Annie Holliday
5. Staffordshire University: Davide Pelino
6. Staffordshire University: Conner Pittaway
7. University of Portsmouth: Siddhesh Swamy
8. University of Portsmouth: Victoria Primmer
9. University of the West of England: William Whitehouse
10. University of the West of England: Zac Collins

OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: DESIGNER

1. Abertay University: Dominik Gawron
2. Brunel University: Rui Silva
3. Bournemouth University: Archie McGrath
4. Bournemouth University: Ethan Shellard
5. City, University of London: Ayotunde Norman-Williams
6. Norwich University of the Arts: Szymon Garczynski
7. Staffordshire University:  Jade Staines
8. Staffordshire University: Olivia Cross
9. Staffordshire University: Tyler Timlin
10. University of Portsmouth: Liam Peachey

OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: PROGRAMMER

1. Abertay University: Bridget Casey
2. Birmingham City University: Ryan Westwood
3. Bournemouth University: Ethan Shellard
4. Sheffield Hallam University: Chae Taylor
5. Sheffield Hallam University: Benjamin Kimberley
6. Staffordshire University: Arnav Mehta
7. University of Gloucestershire: Pheobe Pudge
8. University of the West of England: William Whitehouse
9. University of Portsmouth: Kian Bennett
10. University of Portsmouth: Ethan Crooks

OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: PRODUCTION/ENTERPRISE

1. Abertay University: Lyes Oussaiden
2. Bournemouth University: Anita Oyebola
3. Bournemouth University: Dario Splendido
4. Bournemouth University: Giorgos Karambasis-Rodriguez
5. University of Hertfordshire: Zuzana Remenarova
6. University of Hertfordshire: Darina Koycheva
7. University of Portsmouth: Joshua Hammond
8. University of Portsmouth: Zane Oliver
9. University of Portsmouth: Patrick Rotzetter

OUTSTANDING TIGA POST-GRADUATE OF THE YEAR

1. Sheffield Hallam University: Benjamin Kimberley
2. Sheffield Hallam University: Chae Taylor
3. Staffordshire University: Jamie Linnell
4. University of Hertfordshire: Muthuramalingam Ponnilavan
5. University of Hertfordshire: Reshu Shrestha
6. University of Hertfordshire: Safwan Sadik
7. University of Portsmouth: Adam Jerrett

DIVERSITY AWARD

1. London College of Communication, University of the Arts, London
2. University of Greenwich
3. University of Hertfordshire
4. University of Portsmouth

EXCELLENCE IN UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE – INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

1. Abertay University
2. Birmingham City University
3. Staffordshire University
4. University of Hertfordshire
5. University of Portsmouth 

INNOVATIVE TEACHING

1. Abertay University
2. Birmingham City University
3. University of Hertfordshire
4. University of Portsmouth

EXCELLENCE IN GAMES RESEARCH

1. Abertay University
2. Birmingham City University
3. Bournemouth University
4. EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI)
5. Sheffield Hallam
6. Staffordshire University
7. University of Greenwich

CREATIVE ASSEMBLY BEST STUDENT GAME

1. Abertay University: Slipways
2. Birmingham City University: Checkmate Evolution
3. Bournemouth University: Rum Runner’s Revenge
4. City, University of London: WAFFLE
5. London College of Communication, University of the Arts London: Letter Wars
6. Norwich University of the Arts: Dog Walking Simulator
7. Sheffield Hallam University: Death Rebuke
8. Staffordshire University: Prepare to Dine
9. University of Gloucestershire: Burger Zombies
10. University of Greenwich: Void Edge
11. University of Hertfordshire: My Shadow
12. University of Portsmouth: Malltopia
13. University of the West of Scotland: Project Retro Museum

TIGA has also today unveiled its Graduates of the Year, listing 89 outstanding graduates and post-graduates in games.