ULSTER University is creating 15 new academic positions as it seeks to position itself as a leader in the creative industries.
To help meet a growing demand for skilled graduates in the arts, creative and immersive technology sectors, the university is creating the roles to work with the £20 million Creative Industries Institute, opened last year.
The posts will be aligned with the Institute across Ulster University’s Belfast, Coleraine and Magee campuses and include new roles in areas such as computer animation, visual effects and games design.
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, which generates over £1bn a year to the local economy, and show its leadership in emerging disciplines, such as the immersive technology space.
“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," he said.
“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 recruitment of the15 new academic posts is in addition to 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.
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