Gateshead, UK, 11th March 2009 – Videogame developer Eutechnyx’ Level Up student placement programme has been recognised by the National Council for Work Experience at their 2008/2009 awards.
The Awards, which took place on the 5th of March, saw the Gateshead based game developer singled out as a “Highly Commended” provider of Work Experience in the Best Work Experience Provider: 10 – 250 Employees category.
“Level Up has been a huge success for Eutechnyx and we are very honoured to have received this commendation,” said Arwen Duddington, Level Up Team Leader.
“Eutechnyx demonstrated a successful and high level of work placement. The business benefits and student achievements were obvious in their entry. They’re a real example of best practice,” said Heather Collier, Director of the NCWE.
The basis of the Level Up program is simple: students are given a year in which they work on a real, multi-million dollar project with some of the country’s best game developers, who provide mentoring and feedback to help develop their professional skills and also acclimatise to the business world.
“Although the courses on offer at the universities can be excellent, there are some skills that can only be learnt in the workplace,” explained Arwen, “Level Up allows us to work with the students and shape their work ethics and approach to real world development, which, when coupled with their academic studies, produces fantastic results.”
As well as receiving on-the-job training, they are given the opportunity to work on an actual game that they will see released at the end of the project. So not only do they get practical experience but students can also add a commercially released game to their CV.
The Level Up programme has a superb rate of success, with those students that really excel being offered an opportunity to return to full-time employment with Eutechnyx following their graduation.
Students interested in applying for a placement with Eutechnyx or wanting to find out more about the Level Up programme should contact Team Leader Arwen Duddington (levelup@eutechnyx.com)
