study abroad:the missing piece in undergraduate games education?
TRANSCRIPT
Study Abroad:The Missing Piece in
Undergraduate Games Education?
Elizabeth Lawley
Professor, RIT School of Interactive Games & Media
Why should we care about study
abroad?
“Study abroad has a significant impact on students in the areas of continued language use, academic attainment measures, intercultural and personal development, and career choices. Most importantly, […] this impact can be sustained over a period as long as 50 years.”
Dwyer, M. M. (2004). More Is Better: The Impact of Study Abroad Program Duration. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 10, 151–163.
Why for game students, specifically?
Localization of games involves more than simply translating written and spoken language, but also understanding the impact of culture on how games are perceived and consumed.
“To be certain that we understand the cities we’ll be bringing to life in the game, we spent a considerable amount of time visiting Rome, Florence, Venice and now Istanbul for Assassin’s Creed Revelations. […] We are only truly satisfied when we feel that we have created an in-game rendition of these cities that truly conveys the beauty and history that we felt when we visited them ourselves.”
— Raphael LaCoste,
Art Director for Assassin's Creed
“Research suggests that living in and adapting to foreign cultures facilitates creativity.”
Maddux, W. W., Adam, H., & Galinsky, A. D. (2010). When in Rome... Learn why the Romans do what they do: How multicultural learning experiences facilitate creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(6), 731-741.
What are the options for game students?
Direct Enrollment
● Student applies directly to a foreign university program, often through a coordinating service like IES
● Host university handles admission, tuition and credit, student must handle credit transfer issues
● Allows study for a semester or a full academic year
● Financial aid associated with home institution generally cannot be used
Exchange Programs with Partners
● Some universities and/or departments have established partnerships with foreign universities
● Formal agreements between the schools can address issues of admission, tuition, and transfer credit (details vary)
● Can better target related programs/curricula
● Burden of coordination on faculty/staff, not students
Global Campuses
● Students take classes offered at an affiliated global campus
● Typically only available at large universities
● Works best for students in degree programs that are also offered at the global campus
● Limited options for games classes, even from schools with strong game degree programs
None of these approaches connect game design and study abroad in a meaningful way, by addressing localization issues or creating game design & development opportunities specific to that location.
So, what other options are there?
Faculty-Led Programs
● Faculty member proposes program, and is responsible for arranging foreign collaboration/facilities
● Programs are typically short (1-6 weeks)
● University handles enrollment, fees, credit, and faculty expenses (requires minimum enrollment numbers)
● Classes can focus specifically on relevant topics, and can be integrated with existing degree curriculum
RIT Germany and Japan Collaborations
● Preparatory class in the spring semester, focused on culture, language, planning
● Students travel to the the international location with faculty member for two weeks after class ends
● Focus is on understanding the industry in that country, experiencing a new culture, and a game jam with students in host country
“The key, critical process is multicultural engagement, immersion, and adaptation. Someone who lives abroad and doesn’t engage with the local culture will likely get less of a creative boost than someone who travels abroad and really engages in the local environment.” In other words, going to Cancun for a week on spring break probably won’t make a person any more creative. But going to Cancun and living with local fishermen might.
—“For a More Creative Brain, Travel”, The Atlantic, 31 March 2015
“The age-old premise that ‘more is better’ holds true when it comes to the duration of a study abroad experience. However, the results of this study would suggest that programs of at least 6 weeks duration can be enormously successful in achieving important academic, personal, career and intercultural development outcome.”
Dwyer, M. M. (2004). More Is Better: The Impact of Study Abroad Program Duration. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 10, 151–163.
A Hybrid Approach
● Faculty-led, but at a global campus
● Allows a full-semester experience, with seamless enrollment, tuition, and credit
● Classes can be tailored to both the academic program and the location, because they’re taught by a games program faculty member
Key Lessons We’ve Learned Thus Far
● Marketing that addresses concerns is critical
● Students: cost, financial aid, and credit towards program
● Parents: cost and safety
● Address cultural difference issues before students leave
● Partnerships involve many administrative issues; you need to work closely with your study abroad office
● Semester-long programs need departmental support
So, How Do You Do This?
● Talk with your university’s study abroad office to find out what options and structures are already in place; it’s easier to build on existing partnerships
● Leverage your personal connections with faculty at potential partner institutions abroad
● Partner with another US university that has a games-focused program in place
