Technology

With technology advancing at an ever increasing rate, it’s crucial that you have access to the exact technology and software you will be paid to use once you enter employment.

As members of the prestigious Technology Exemplar Network we want to ensure that we continually produce high calibre, creative professionals who are technically savvy when it comes to finding graduate employment.

• Computing
  We manage a high speed internet connection which you’ll use for your studies and leisure whilst at the College and our wireless network allows you to connect your laptop and mobile devices almost anywhere.
  
  The network also provides access to HE C_Space, our dedicated Higher Education intranet which provides a wealth of resources and information to support your studies. Here you will also find links to hundreds of online journals and periodicals, sports results, forums, college policies and student council news and updates.
• Engineering
  We are committed to the Government’s STEM initiative to improve Higher Education participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and have invested in specialised facilities for our engineering students. Learners on our Engineering programmes will have access to excellent facilities including CAD computer suites, laboratories and workshops.
• Games Development
  Learners on the Computer Games Design degree will use DarkBASIC Professional, the most advanced games development package available, enabling the creation of 2D and 3D animations, environment mapping, lightning fast 2D sprites, cartoon shading and much more. Games designers will also get to grips with 3ds Max, a modelling, animation and rendering package that has been used to create visual effects for blockbuster films such as Avatar, the Harry Potter franchise and Iron Man. Networked PCs also allow for LAN-based gaming environments.
• Sport
  Our Personal Fitness and Sports programmes have a range of specialist resources available. A training gym for planning and delivering sessions to clients is available, which provides learners with resources such as cardiovascular and resistance machines and a range of free weights. The use of the Sports Laboratory provides learners with a ‘consultancy’ space to assess a client’s weight and nutrition as well as access to statistical analysis software such as SPSS. Online journals are also available such as SPORTDiscus, Athletic Insight, Athens and Infotrac.
• Media and Creative Arts
  With substantial investment in recent years and strong links and input from a variety of industry leaders, those enrolling on a course within our Faculty of Media and Creative Arts will reap the benefits of our well-equipped studio spaces.
  
  As well as holding the prestigious AoC Beacon Award status for Media students’ work with local hospice Fair Havens, the College is also an Apple Certified Training Centre for Education (AATCe), and we deliver high-quality training and certification in key software applications used by the professionals. As an AATCe, we can offer a jump-start in film, television, recording and other new media careers, with first class digital education. We are also an Apple Authorised Training Centre (AATC) for industry.
• Photography
  We became the first official Nikon Academy in the UK, which highlights our commitment to photography and our learners. Benefits include seminars where Nikon’s own experts are available to deliver a wide range of information on subjects from the latest technology, to its use in a professional environment. Learners will also be able to take advantage of a discount scheme.
  
  Our photography department includes a tungsten flash studio, black and white darkrooms with manual processing, digital facilities including Macs, film scanners and high quality digital printing facilities. We also offer a comprehensive range of traditional cameras in 35mm, medium and large formats. We even have a stylish Campus Gallery for displaying your work.
• Design
  Learners on the Interior Design programme will be trained to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) and image manipulation packages, such as AutoCAD Architecture, 3DStudioMax, Maya and Photoshop.
• Fashion
  The fashion department is equipped with Gerber suites, which are used for pattern cutting and production of fashion design. The department is also equipped with specialist textile design equipment, exactly what you would see and use in industry.
• Music
  Music facilities include Extreme, our offsite recording studio. This multi-track studio uses Pro Tools for recording, has a wide variety of microphones, various outboard gear and an additional mix-down suite for post-production work. Extreme also includes four rehearsal rooms, a variety of instruments including a Yamaha acoustic piano and a range of guitars. Learners will also use the Computer Music Studio in the main building which utilises professional music-creation software such as Sibelius and Logic.
• Film and Television
  Our Media Department has a £250,000 High Definition (HD) Sony approved television studio presenting learners with the opportunity to produce broadcast quality television programmes. With television moving to HD by 2012, the Sony Studio ensures our graduates are well prepared for the transition. Learners also get access to HD cameras and Apple Editing suites as well as being trained in Final Cut Pro. Broadcast quality HD video cameras are also available for learners to borrow for their individual projects.
• Other specialist learning spaces
  Our art and design courses feature specialist technical studios appropriate for print, photography, sculpture and digital manipulation.
  
  We also have animation TV studios, photographic darkrooms and studio production areas. Our Digital Animation degree not only covers CGI development but also offers learners the chance to study traditional methods of animation.

No matter what you choose to study with us, you can rest-assured that we are well-equipped to help you succeed and realise your potential.