The long-term cooperation between Jamk University of Applied Sciences and Peliosuuskunta Expa – Jyväskylä Game Industry Hub has been formalized with a partnership

Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Jamk) has been in long-term cooperation with Peliosuuskunta Expa (Expa) for more than 10 years. One concrete result of the cooperation is the launch of the Digi & Game Center (DGC) in 2020, and since then the digital and game industry ecosystem of the DGC has also been jointly developed and expanded into a meeting and development place for more and more multidisciplinary talents. The past three years at DGC have been successful in the implementation of game education activities and in achieving the results of R&D activities, and to that extent we want to further strengthen cooperation with Expa through a paid partnership so that the region will continue to have a vibrant gaming industry that has not only attraction but also sustainability.

The partnership especially serves Jamk’s international English-language Business Information Technology (BIT) bachelor’s degree program in the game industry. BIT is also the first and one of the few bachelor’s level programmes among Universities of Applied Sciences dedicated solely to video game development and production. The first application for the above-mentioned degree program was in 2020, and this year it was Jamk’s most attractive international bachelor’s degree program. This describes well the interest and growth in the gaming industry and the fact that the skills related to the industry are needed now and in the future. With the help of the partnership, among other things, there will be more systematic marketing visibility and own events, which support the high-quality implementation of Jamk’s education and R&D activities.

The partnership also supports Jamk’s strategic work related to the development of gaming technologies and esports community of experts. The purpose of this strategy work is to promote the wide-ranging introduction of game technologies, regardless of industry, and to create new business models and know-how around esports (entrepreneurship, coaching, well-being, management, education). Cooperation with Expa and other organizations in the DGC business ecosystem is important in achieving these goals. In addition, Jamk has also invested in DGC’s green room studio space, VR and PlayStation Lounge space, and GamePit Matara esports space, which can also be found at DGC. These facilities and related functions also contribute to the realization of Jamk’s strategy and are part of the partnership.

So Jamk and Expa are familiar with each other, but with this paid partnership we have taken the friendship to a more professional and goal-oriented level. With this, we expect even more impressive and successful work from the cooperation made so far. In any case, there will be success.

This partnership is a source of pride for both parties. This pride can easily be seen by visiting the premises of DGC, where the logo of Jamk is visible in many different places. Together, we want to help grow the gaming industry in the region. It is important that we actively make others aware of the progress we have made. For this reason, we publish a few articles together each year.

Getting a job in the gaming industry can be challenging, which is why Expa wants to help BIT students find their first internships and jobs. The competition in the industry is tough, and Jamk students are competing for the same positions as international future stars. One of the events under this partnership is a recruitment event for third-year BIT students, which Expa will be organizing annually.

In addition to this, Expa and Jamk together will  organize their own Game Jam for first and second-year students. The goal of these Game Jams is to create a publishable game in 48 hours. The schedule is tight, so it teaches students important skills needed in their professional careers, such as scheduling, teamwork and prototyping. The finished products will be showcased, so students will also learn pitching skills.

Now that the pandemic has subsided, Expa will also host the #XmasJKL seminar annually. This is a business seminar for the gaming industry aimed at networking and listening to expert speeches. In previous years, some of the biggest names in the Finnish gaming industry have attended this event. The event is also geared towards students, so Expa brings international professionals directly to them. At the event, students can ask for advice and present their ideas to these professionals.