With the Cégep de Matane and Sherbrooke University (Université de Sherbrooke) as its initial partners, the Ubisoft Campus will provide innovative programs that lead to the award of degrees accredited by Quebec's Ministry of Education. The Ubisoft Campus will be Quebec's first institution combining college- and university-level programs covering the portfolio of skills needed for videogame production, programming, as well as 3D animation, 3D modelling and level design.
"This innovative initiative is aimed at opening the gates of knowledge to a maximum number of young people who are interested in pursuing a career in the booming video game industry for their careers. The Ubisoft Campus will provide students with a comprehensive range of courses with outstanding cutting-edge instruction modelled on the video game production cycle," said Martin Tremblay, President and COO of Ubisoft's Montreal studio. "With this major development project, we are reconfirming our educational commitment to provide support for the talent of tomorrow, while allowing us to reach our goal of creating 1,000 new jobs in Montreal by 2010."
The Ubisoft Campus will also house the new continuing education centre for Ubisoft employees, an initiative backed by Emploi Québec.
This announcement was made in the presence of Quebec Premier Jean Charest, Quebec Minister of Education Pierre Reid, Principal of the Université de Sherbrooke, Bruno-Marie Béchard and General Director of the Cégep de Matane, Émery Béland.
The Programs
Different programs will be offered to selected students and two categories of degrees will be awarded.
- Attestation of collegial studies
- Attestations of collegial studies will be awarded by the Cégep de Matane to graduates of game level designer, 2D modelling and 3D animation programs. Each program will be 45 weeks long, divided into three 15-week terms.
- "The Cégep de Matane is particularly proud to be associated with the Ubisoft Campus and to contribute to the training of the workforce for this world leader in video game production. To date, our partnership has enabled us to develop three attestations of collegial studies in the games field which we shall offer in Montreal starting in the spring 2005 term. This association with Ubisoft will also generate unique expertise which we plan to transfer into introductory training provided in our Multimedia Integration Technique program or into other new specialized programs in the digital imaging field, which will contribute to the distinctive qualities of our collegiate institution," said Émery Béland, General Director of the Cégep de Matane.
- Graduate degree
- Sherbrooke University and Ubisoft are teaming up to offer graduate degree programs, primarily in computer science and in software engineering. Courses in programming, digital imaging and electronics will be particularly useful in helping to reduce the shortage of specialized labour in certain cutting-edge game design sectors.
- "The Université de Sherbrooke is proud to team up with Ubisoft, an international electronic games industry leader. Together we shall contribute to the continuing education of highly productive and creative specialists in this field. The Université de Sherbrooke is very pleased to thus highlight its leadership in the digital imaging field, and particularly in the design of games that require swift powers of invention and an ability to take risks," said President Bruno-Marie Béchard. The scope of this partnership will also enable Ubisoft to offer internships to Sherbrooke Univeristy students, while making it easier for graduates to get jobs. Degrees awarded by the Sherbrooke University within the framework of this partnership will make note of Ubisoft"s contributions.
To successfully carry out this initiative, Ubisoft Entertainment will invest up to CAD$16 million in different training programs, while the Government of Quebec will inject another CAD$5.3 million through its Ministry of Education. The school, which will be situated within Montreal"s Ubisoft facilities, will commence operations in the spring of 2005 with the enrolment of some 80 students. Over the next five years, 500 students and 1,000 employees should be able to benefit from the instruction offered at the Ubisoft Campus.
For more information please visit www.ubisoftcampus.com