The University of Abertay Dundee has said that the UK Government has made “a positive step forward for computer science” in its official response to the Next Gen report.

Written by creative industries experts Ian Livingstone and Alex Hope, the report into the UK’s video games and visual effects industries was commissioned by Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries, in July 2010.

It recommended that computer science be introduced as a core part of school education. Recommendations made in the report included introducing Abertay University’s ‘Dare to be Digital’ model of workplace simulation into university courses across the UK, which the Government today endorsed.

Dr Louis Natanson, who leads computer games education at Abertay University, said: “Today the UK Government has made a positive step forward for computer science by recognising its importance for the nation’s future economic development.

“Computer games and visual effects are high-growth, high-value industries with the potential to drive Britain forward, increasing investment and exports, and repositioning the UK as one of the world’s most creative nations.

“However, without school children being excited about computer science – and being encouraged to study art, maths and science side-by-side – we are at risk of falling further behind.”