The different units which make up this course were developed by Synergy Learning, a prviate company based in Belfast, in consultation with teachers at the Causeway Institute and in consultation with industry.
Given that the course is a National Diploma in Media the focus of the modules is somewhat different from other courses. There are four core media subjects – Understanding the Media, Research Techniques, Media skills Workshop and Professional Practice; four compulsory modules – Production Management, Professional Brief, Digital Graphics, Game Platforms and Technologies and ten game options which include – Narrative Structure in games, Game design, Sound for games, Video in Multimedia, Object orientated design, HCI, Game engines, 3D modelling, 3D animation and 3D environments. Colleges can pick and choose from a wide of modules and students must complete 18 units for a National Diploma over 2 years or 12 units for a Certificate.
The Causeway Institute has been working closely with Eidos who have helped to train staff. David Brockbank, who teaches on the course, also informed gd.ie that they have a full complement of consoles and PCs for their students. Other links have been made to CanDo.
Entry Requirements are 4GCSEs at Grade C or above and an interview. People who are interested in finding out more should check out the EDXL website for the full list of modules and/or contact David Brockbank on mailto: david.brockbank @ causeway.ac.ukdavid.brockbank@causeway.ac.uk. People can apply direct through the causeway’s own website.
The Causeway Institute is located on two campuses, Coleraine and Ballymoney. The Institute came into being in September 1994 after the merger of two former technical colleges- Coleraine Technical College and Ballymoney’s North Antrim College. Central Administration for the whole Institute is now based at the Coleraine Campus.
More info:
Ed EXCEL
www.edexcel.org.uk/qualifications/QualificationAward.aspx?id=93278 list of modules
Causeway Institute
www.causeway.ac.uk/courses/courses_search_details.asp?fldCourseID=342