Ewan Hart Prieto, a 22-year-old computer games programming student from Hampton, spoke to MPs and peers at Parliament during the launch of Kingston University’s latest Future Skills report.
Ewan, who began his studies in 2020 with limited experience in game programming, has since gained a year’s industry experience and developed several games. He is featured on the cover of ‘Future Skills: The Kingston Approach’ – a report focusing on essential skills for adapting to a technologically evolving workplace.
The report includes findings from a YouGov survey, which revealed that 79% of business leaders see teaching future skills as part of the curriculum as crucial. Ewan, now in his final year at Kingston University, shared his thoughts: “Attending the launch event for the report at the House of Commons gave me a really important opportunity to talk to MPs, peers and business leaders about my course and the importance of the University’s work rolling out Future Skills modules to students across every subject. This is giving students the chance to develop really important skills graduate attributes, such as problem solving, digital competency and adaptability.”
Ewan attributes his success to the practical aspects of his BSc (Hons) course: “The fact that right from the first year we were making games meant I picked up the skills that helped me to get a placement in industry really quickly. The fundamentals I’ve learnt early on at Kingston University are going to be so important in my career.”
His passion for gaming led him to a placement at Feral Interactive, a video games developer in Wandsworth, South West London: “I learned so much on placement, from technical skills like porting games to consoles and working in a professional environment. The skills I have learnt over my placement year are not only helping me in my final year of university but will also help me to get my dream job in Japan.”
After graduating, Ewan plans to move to Japan and work for a top gaming company: “My dream after graduating is to work in a Japanese gaming company as they have made some of my favourite games, to do this I will need the skills I have learnt at Kingston University.”
Associate Professor Dr Darrel Greenhill, Ewan’s course leader, praised his engagement with the course: “Through discussions in his role as a course representative, sharing his experiences on placement at a games company, helping to run a games jam and recently as a teaching assistant at an outreach event for a local school, Ewan has been consistently making a valuable contribution to the University and the next generation of computer games programmers.”
As Ewan’s graduation nears, he is confident that the Future Skills taught at the University will greatly aid his career launch.
