The ‘Skills Gap’ in the Animation/VFX industry in Scotland

Mortimer, Jonathan; Richards, Kendall; Pilcher, Nick

Abstract

Integral to the animation and visual effects (VFX) industry are graduates with industry focused skills. Yet, the industry is rapid and ever changing, almost defying attempts to define it. How then should animation/VFX, and indeed any subject of a similar nature, be taught to best prepare industry-ready graduates? This article describes Animation/VFX industry perceptions (N = 18) of current Animation teaching in further and higher education. Findings show that a large ‘gap’ in the ‘skills’ required exists, but with multitudinous perceptions and understandings of what this ‘skills gap’ is. The authors suggest approaches to plug this gap through attributes and aptitudes that could be developed in students, lecturers and industry opportunities for students. Further, they outline how closer industry and education sector collaboration may be achieved. However, they stress that, without government policy initiatives and investment, the prospects for the sector, and by extension for those in a similar situation, appear bleak.

Citation

Mortimer, J., Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2024). The ‘Skills Gap’ in the Animation/VFX industry in Scotland. Animation, 19(2-3), 161-176. https://doi.org/10.1177/17468477241281629

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 27, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 14, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 28, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 14, 2024
• Print ISSN: 1746-8477
• Electronic ISSN: 1746-8485
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 2-3
• Pages: 161-176
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17468477241281629
• Keywords: Animation, Animation/VFX, Pedagogy, Skills Gap, Collaboration, Education & Industry