Please describe recent initiatives with hardware/software companies aimed at making new technology more accessible to students.

Alias does have the learning edition of Maya. We would love to have companies keep us informed of these initiatives.
University of Hawai‘i
Manoa, Hawai‘i

We will be working with HP and Maya. Our students will have the availability to use laptops on our wireless system, so they can create and then share their files with others in the group from a distance. Maya is also supplying us with Maya Unlimited (at a small cost, of course).
Northern Oklahoma College
MMDC — Advanced Animation Lab
Tonkawa, Oklahoma

What do you think about industry concerns that schools need to stress more technique than technology?

We absolutely agree and always have. The technology will always change. If you understand why you do something, you will be able to figure out how to do it in the new tools.
The Gnomon School of Visual Effects
Los Angeles, California

On the whole these concerns are well founded. This is, however, a symptom of the difficulty, if not near impossibility, for many educational establishments to find tutors of a suitable quality. This is certainly not a general rule, as there are many excellent courses and tutors out there, but more often than not an abundance of money is thrown at the situation. This can provide the technology, but without the relevant expertise the program will inevitably fall short of its ultimate aim.
Escape Studios
London, England

Please describe recent outreach training programs with industries inside or outside your country.

Since we are on the Internet, we do reach folks outside the US. This includes most of the instructors that are currently training folks at other institutions.

That also includes the Middle East. We are not about politics we are about knowledge in animation graphics and digital media. The plain truth is, if you haven't attended one of our classes, you're not as good as you could be. If you're a hobbyist and want to get up to speed in a hurry that's O.K. too but you have to remember there is no substitute for spending time in the program.
Virtual Partners Training Center
JMC Inc.
Green Bay, Wisconsin

There are two extremes. Either they teach the tools and do not care about the talent looking at short-term benefits for the people who run the institution or they are too academic in nature and turn out only animation designers and not animation production professionals. Ultimately the industry is still short of efficient and effective CG animation artists who can deliver world-class product. The graphic software companies and big production houses with muscle power should come together and initiate useful institution building in the entertainment industry. There are such ventures outside of the country but none within India. Some production houses are conducting in-house training programs to meet the challenges. But that is not enough to tackle the present skilled manpower issue.
Toonz Animation
India

Bill Desowitz is the editor of VFXWorld.