Perfect World, Abertay University team up for a gaming program

Perfect World Education Investment Co Ltd, the education branch of Beijing-based global entertainment group Perfect World Investment & Holding Group, has announced a 10-year partnership with Abertay University in the United Kingdom, which is known for its expertise in computer games.

The partnership is expected to help the Chinese gaming industry gain a foothold in the video game markets worldwide amid intensifying competition.

Under the partnership, PWEI will work with Abertay to deliver a new executive master's program in games development.

The course will launch early next year and train 100 Chinese game developers every year. It aims to help them improve professional skills and competence in design, programming, content creation and production. Enrolled professionals will first study in Beijing to prepare for full-time study at the university.

Ruby Wang, president of PWEI, said it is of great importance to offer self-improvement opportunities for professionals in the games industry, which will potentially help produce more high-quality products for China's digital-savvy young players.

"The overseas program will promote a broader world view," she said. "Game professionals will not only acquire advanced knowledge and skills but be able to share views and experiences with their international counterparts. We hope the cooperation will not only boost the development of the domestic gaming industry but help China to become a key player in the global market."

According to Wang, the company will cultivate more digital creative talent for the domestic gaming industry.

"First, we'll launch an online education platform to complement the offline training programs. Second, we'll cooperate with domestic colleges to build a modular teaching system and introduce the talent evaluation system with leading firms in the industry. Last, we'll continue to team up with international organizations and world-renowned colleges to offer global resources."

PWEI had a previous agreement with Abertay in 2016 to boost cooperation in vocational and degree education in games development.

Since 2016, the university, in association with PWEI, has been running an orientation program called Master's of Professional Practice in Games Development, which requires Chinese students studying in Beijing to prepare for a year at Abertay.

Kenneth Fee, lecturer in game art and animation at Abertay, said as mobile gaming is gradually becoming a driving force in the whole gaming sector, it will be a key part of the program.

The booming mobile internet sector has helped top Chinese gaming companies to grow their revenues during the first half of 2017, according to a market report by gaming industry consultancy Newzoo.

Owing to the good performance of PC and mobile gaming sectors, Perfect World Co Ltd, the listed arm of Perfect World Holding, made its first appearance on Newzoo's Top 25 companies list by game revenues, ranking at the 20th place.

In March, Perfect World Co Ltd reported its 2017 revenue grew 29 percent year-on-year to 7.93 billion yuan, out of which 5.65 billion yuan, or 70 percent, came from the gaming sector.

Dong Zhen, a Beijing-based entertainment analyst, said powered by the large user base, China's mobile gaming sector has entered a new phase of rapid growth.

"By 2020, China's mobile gaming sector will evolve from an upstart emerging market to mature market."