BC Recognized for Top Video Game Training, Design

2012-03-05
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Two Canadian media training facilities, both in British Columbia, have scored big time in a review of top video game institutions. The Art Institute of Vancouver ranks number five on the top 10 of the list for undergraduate schools. This is The Art Institute of Vancouver's third appearance on the list.
A neighbouring institution, the Vancouver Film School, received an Honourable mention in the evaluation by The Princeton Review in its "Top Schools to Study Video Game Design for 2012" ranking.

The Princeton Review annually selects the best undergraduate and graduate institutions in the U.S. and Canada where you can study video game design. It ranks the top 32 undergraduate and top 18 graduate programs.

The programs were selected based on a 2011 survey of administrators at institutions offering game design coursework and/or degrees. Selection criteria included the quality of the curriculum, faculty credentials, facilities and infrastructure as well as data on scholarships, financial aid and career opportunities.

The survey asked approximately 50 questions associated with the video game design courses offered at some 150 schools in the U.S. and Canada, with topics ranging from the quality of academics to the institutions' facilities. Other important factors taken into consideration by the surveyors were faculty credentials and career opportunities. The company's full report on the 2012 list is accessible now at http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design.aspx.
"We are very proud to be ranked again in the top ten list by The Princeton Review," said John Mazzoni, President of The Art Institutes. "It is a testament to the great work by our faculty and staff at the school who are dedicated to achieving excellence and helping students reach their educational goals."
Marc Aubanel, Academic Director for Media Arts at The Art Institute of Vancouver, has set the precedent for his school. Aubanel has an extensive background in the media arts industry including producing the TV program "Sanctuary," which is now shown on the Syfy network. In addition, Aubanel was previously a Vice President and Executive Producer at Electronic Arts Canada.
"Academic and professional programs in video game design studies – from very specialized college majors to highly concentrated graduate degrees – have evolved tremendously over the past 10 years," said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's Senior VP/Publisher at The Princeton Review, in a statement announcing the study's results on March 1, 2012.
"We salute the schools on our list this year for their commitment to this burgeoning field and the innovative programs they offer. For students aspiring to work in this more than $10.5 billion industry and for the companies that will need their creative talents and skills, we hope this project will serve as a catalyst for many rewarding connections," Franek added.
The Art Institutes is a system of more than 45 educational institutions located throughout North America.