The Grads in Games Awards 2021 – The HE Academic Award Winner is Revealed!
The HE Academic award highlights lecturers, course leaders & academics (currently teaching at a Higher Education level) who have demonstrated a positive impact with their students over the past 12 months. These are the academics that go beyond just the lectures, are often excellent student mentors, organise industry events and speakers, and can show wide-ranging beneficial results of their work.
This years finalists include teachers at some of the very best universities for games across Europe:
- Alan Jack – Breda University of Applied Sciences
- Andy Bossom – University for the Creative Arts
- Pavan Mankoo – Birmingham City University
- Rik Leenknegt – Howest DAE
- Stuart Lilford – University of hull
Following deliberation by our judging panel, we can now reveal that in their expert decision the winner of this years award is Alan Jack representing Breda University of Applied Sciences.
Alan is a lecturer of Games Design who has been with Breda since 2015. As well as teaching, Alan is heavily invested in improving the wellbeing of his students and ensuring that games is for anybody
“Alan Jack is a great educator with a passion for game design theory. He puts great effort into effectively instructing a dense curriculum of design knowledge and applied skills. He is very empathetic and personally involved in the study progress and well-being of his students. He is also a great advocate for progressive change within the university. Such as by helping neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ students find greater support and acceptance within the institution.”
“He started and runs the Neurodiversity club that gathers people with AD(H)D, Autism, Anxiety, etc and allows them to talk about their issues without fear of judgement. We get to share our struggles and look for solutions together.”
“Alan created a protocol for trans students to easily change their preferred name and gender in all school systems and administration”
“Alan is an amazing lecturer and mentor. He inspires his students to be curious and to go out there and learn/explore on their on terms. He is always available to help his students in need. He is a true inspiration.”
We feel Alan is an excellent example of what academics can achieve both in and out of the classroom, this award is fully deserved and we want to offer him all of our congratulations.
