The posts, which will be aligned with the Creative Industries Institute across Ulster University’s Belfast, Coleraine and Magee campuses, include new roles in cutting edge creative disciplines such as Computer Animation, Visual Effects (VFX) and Games Design.
In 2017 Ulster University unveiled its new £20m Creative Industries Institute to drive future growth in what is the fastest growing sector of the UK economy and contributes £1.01bn of GVA a year to the Northern Ireland economy.
The Institute brings together all strands of the University’s world-leading research and teaching expertise in the creative industries including: Advertising and Graphic Design, Animation, Architecture, Film and Broadcast, Product Design, Creative Technologies, Fashion, Music, Drama, Photography and Fine Art.
Professor Paul Seawright, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said the new posts are part of the University’s contribution to growing the creative sector in Northern Ireland and show its leadership in emerging disciplines, such as the immersive technology space. He said:
“Ulster University has a strong and proud history in the creative industries and these posts illustrate our ambitions for the future. They are a direct response to the University’s consultation with key players in the creative industries and the skills they tell us are in high demand.
“For example, the Professor of Animation, Senior Lecturer in Animation and VFX and Senior Lecturer in Games Design will launch new Master’s level programmes in Computer Animation and Games Design that will be the first of their kind on the island of Ireland, equipping a new generation with industry leading skills.”
Professor Seawright added:
“As the Creative Industries Institute continues to drive exciting new developments in the sector, we are looking for people who share our ambition to partner with industry to shape the future. The Creative Industries Institute was formed as part of the University’s commitment to areas of excellence and was launched with a significant £20m investment in capital infrastructure with a further £5m invested in our staff.
“The Institute is positioned to drive interdisciplinary research and post-graduate teaching in a range of emerging areas; VR/AR, Games Design, User Experience Design, VFX, Digital Production and Post-Production. If you are a leader in the field or can demonstrate your potential to transform the sector, we would welcome an application.”
This recruitment of 15 new academic posts is in addition to the new £9m media and broadcast facilities at the Coleraine campus and a £5m investment in posts to drive new courses and research in virtual and augmented reality, game design and post-production video effects in response to current, or anticipation of future, market need. New research in the sector will also be supported through a £2.5m investment in PhD studentships in creative disciplines.