Ubisoft woos another Quebec university

The public-private partnership competition in Montreal between two of the world’s largest game developers took another turn this week, with French firm Ubisoft Entertainment signing yet another agreement with a Quebec university. The Université du Québec has 11 satellite campuses scattered around the provinces, a network that makes it an ideal partner for a software firm intent on delivering video game design instruction to as many as possible, says Ubisoft VP of communications and corporate affairs Martin Carrier. Couple that physical footprint of campuses with a proficiency in distance education, and "potentially, we’ll be able to build educational modules which no frontier...," he says. Ubisoft, based in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil-sous-Bois, has a sizable game development studio in Montreal and another in Quebec City, both of which employ more than 1,000 people. In February, the firm announced it would partner with the Cégep de Matane in the Gaspe region and the Université de Sherbrooke to build a $16-million "Ubisoft campus" to train students in both schools’ video game-related programs of study. The cégep system, an institution unique to Québec, roughly corresponds with the community colleges found in many other parts of Canada. The campus, which charges no tuition fees, has two courses of study available: a diploma in video game development, for students who have either completed a university undergraduate degree, and; a "collegial studies certification" track for high school graduates who can demonstrate video game experience and interest. Students in all locations across Quebec will collaborate on a final assignment, the start-to-finish creation of a mock video game project. The curriculum developed for use at the Ubisoft campus has received certification from the Quebec ministry of education, and as such can be picked up by any cégep that wishes to use it, Carrier says. Ubisoft is also looking to apply some of the most successful courses and study programs at its Chinese studio in Shanghai, which houses a staff of 300. At the time of the initial Ubisoft announcement, the Quebec government revealed it would augment Ubisoft’s money with a $5.3 million boost from the province’s ministry of education. That commitment of public money drew condemnation from a Canadian spokesperson for rival game developer, Redwood City CA’s Electronic Arts, which also boasts a large Montreal presence. However, last month EA Canada announced a $2.6-million training program of its own that would receive funding from the Quebec government (CNM, Sept. 2/05). Unlike the Ubisoft campus, however, EA’s program is open to its employees only. "Certainly it doesn’t take away from us that our colleagues are building programs," says Carrier. "On the contrary, I think it will benefit everyone." Ubisoft’s initial $16-million commitment to the Ubisoft campus is likely to increase, Carrier adds, due to a level of demand that hadn’t been anticipated. "When we first started building the school, it was something very new and success was not assured." With three post-secondary educational institutions on board as partners now, "it’s actually beyond our expectations, so our investment will most likely be up to, if not over, that number," he says. While students interested in video game development will get a free education, Carrier says Ubisoft benefits from more than just good public relations too. "We announced in February that we wanted to create 1,000 new jobs in Quebec... one of the keys to being able to fill all those positions is the campus," he says. "In the end more work for us, because basically we’re limited by our ability to recruit."

Ubisoft woos another Quebec university

Broadcast | September 16, 2005

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