NextGen Virtual Work Experience
4wardFutures takes NextGen students to Mars for a week of virtual work experience.
The dream of colonising Mars has fascinated generations of space explorers, with public space agencies and private corporations all looking to the red planet as a possible destination for human settlers, alongside numerous visualisations of colonisation in science fiction writing, film, and art.
Taking this dream as inspiration, 4wardFutures worked with Next Gen Skills Academy to offer over 150 students from seven FE Colleges who are studying the NextGen AIM Qualifications Level 3 Extended Diploma in Games, Animation and VFX Skills. a week of virtual work experience.
Working in groups as micro creative studios, students were tasked with researching and designing their own vision of what it means to create a sustainable society on Mars, before delivering either:
· A 1-minute visual presentation using VFX, animation and 3D modelling to promote the colonisation of Mars to its early settlers, highlighting how the early settlers will have the unique opportunity to be part of the creation of a new self-sustaining Mars society.
· A plan and pitch for a simulation game to help educate and prepare early colonists to overcome challenges and build a sustainable Mars settlement.
These assets will be used for 4wardFutures projects to empower young people of all backgrounds to take control of their future careers and progression opportunities in a world that is rapidly changing through the impact of innovation and new technology.
The Student groups were coached throughout the week by a roster of Games, Animation, VFX, and Space industry professionals from leading employers such as Union VFX, Creative Assembly and Space Specialists. Bringing real industry engagement directly to students, they joined online calls to offer feedback, advice, and inspiration as they refined their work before presenting it to a panel of space experts.
At the end of the week, students presented their work to a panel of space professionals, including Brad "Buddy" Gersey, Lead Research Scientist at the NASA funded Centre for Radiation Engineering and Science for Space Exploration.
Mohammed Kurdi, NextGen student at Uxbridge College said of his experience:
"This work experience project has been brilliant! I've had a lot of fun and learned a lot about project management and have thoroughly enjoyed taking this project through from inception to pitch. I appreciate the opportunity to have worked with Nextgen, 4wardFutures and NASA”.
Mark Waters, Head of research and Programme Development at 4wardFutures, said:
“Through working on our 3D Space Design challenge, we hoped that in addition to the experience of working as part of a team on an industry set design brief, they would gain an insight into how their skills and qualities in 3D visualisation, VFX production and animation are in high demand across many sectors, such as the space sector.”
“Spending time with the NextGen students as they presented their work was one of the most amazing and rewarding experiences I have had. The NextGen students totally exceed our expectations, with some amazing work and a clear demonstration of the personal qualities that are so important in the workplace”.
Marcia Deakin, Games Partnership Director at NextGen Skills Academy, said:
“This has been such a fantastic and inspiring project to be involved with. The students were so engaged, and the work produced was to a really high standard. Remote work has become a reality over the last year, with all challenges it entails. The creative industries have been able to adapt their working practises quickly and, in many cases, thrive during Covid due to remote working. This practice is set to continue once there is a return to studios. Therefore, it is increasingly valuable for students to learn these skills, and this project shows that these placements can be incredibly meaningful and impactful for students preparing for the next stages of their careers”.
