Bournemouth University

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BU praised in Parliament yesterday

17 June 2011

Tobias Ellwood MP

Comments from Ed Vaizey MP & Tobias Ellwood MP.

Bournemouth University (BU) has been praised in Parliament as one of the leading digital media centres in the world.

The comments came from the Minister for Communication, Culture and the Creative Industries Ed Vaizey yesterday in response to praise from Tobias Ellwood who is the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East.

Mr Vaizey said: “I am happy to join my honourable friend in congratulating Bournemouth University, which I visited when I was the Opposition spokesman. It is one of the leading digital media centres, not just in this country, but, I suspect, the world.”

Mr Ellwood had drawn the Minster’s attention to the film ‘Avatar’; half of the film’s visual effects technicians having been made up of BU graduates. He described the University as a ‘great academic centre for learning’ and praised the expansion of digital economy studies.

The praise is the latest in a string of successes from the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) at BU. Back in February the organisation’s unique blend of science and art was held up as a ‘shining example’ by the National Endowment for Science Technology and Art (NESTA). And in February BU MA in Digital Special Effects graduate Andy Lockley won an Oscar for his visual effects work on the 2010 smash Inception.

Vice Chancellor for BU, Professor John Vinney said “I am absolutely delighted that Bournemouth University’s world-class standing in digital media is so well-recognised. My thanks and congratulations go to everyone who has helped to make it such a success. At BU we are committed to providing a fantastic student experience and empowering graduates to enable them to excel in their careers.”

Full transcript of comments

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Will the Minister join me in congratulating that great academic centre of learning, Bournemouth University, on expanding its digital economy studies in areas such as media studies and graphic design? Half the technicians who worked on the science fiction film “Avatar” are graduates of the university.

Mr Vaizey: I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating Bournemouth University, which I visited when I was the Opposition spokesman. It is one of the leading digital media centres, not just in this country, but, I suspect, the world.

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