Department Newsletter
COMPUTING
DIGITAL INDUSTRIES
wakefield.ac.uk
Welcome Greetings from Wakefield College’s Computing and Digital Industries Department! In a world where technology continues to transform how we live and work, digital skills have never been more valuable—or more exciting to develop. At Wakefield College, we’re proud to lead the way in digital innovation. Our department was recently featured in Jisc’s digital newsletter for embedding sustainable practices into the curriculum. From cloud computing and data optimisation to secure software development, our students are learning how to build smart, efficient, and environmentally responsible digital solutions. We also believe in learning beyond the classroom. Our students have showcased their work at major gaming events like GaMaYo and participated in Wakefield Digital Careers Week— connecting with industry professionals, gaining insight into real-world practices, and building valuable experience in areas such as game design, 3D modelling, programming, and project management. Whether you’re passionate about computing, cybersecurity, or game development, the digital world is full of opportunity—and it’s growing every day. We’re here to help spark ideas, build skills, and support your journey, wherever it takes you. Wishing you all the best as you explore what’s next.
Game Development Students Take on a Real Industry Challenge Our Level 3 Game Development students recently had the exciting opportunity to work on a live industry brief set by award-winning game development studio Radical Forge. As part of the project, students designed and developed their own original games, applying the skills they’ve been building in areas such as coding, gameplay mechanics and digital design. The experience gave them valuable insight into how professional studios develop and present new game ideas. To showcase their work, students published their finished games on itch.io — a popular platform used by independent developers around the world to share and distribute their creations. Projects like this give students a real taste of the games industry, helping them build
The Studio Gets a Major Upgrade for the New Academic Year Students studying Game Development at Wakefield College will be starting the new academic year with an exciting upgrade to The Studio – the department’s dedicated game development teaching environment. Designed to mirror a realworld games studio, The Studio features a 50-seat workspace where students can collaborate and gain hands-on experience of working in a professional development environment.
Rob Charlish
Head of Head of Computing & Digital Industries
portfolios and gain practical experience that prepares them for careers in the fast-growing world of game development and the future of the digital world!
Thanks to a recent upgrade delivered in partnership
with Chillblast, the space is now equipped with brand new high-performance PCs. The machines also feature custom UV-printed cases, bringing a vibrant splash of colour to the room. The refresh has been warmly welcomed by both students and staff, helping to ensure learners have access to the modern tools and technology used across the games industry. With powerful new hardware and a creative studio environment, students are now even better equipped to
design, develop and test their own games as part of their studies at Wakefield College