Staffordshire University Games Institute

The Games Institute harnesses our established expertise in games to turn the University into a recognised global centre of excellence in research and enterprise for games and the related areas of augmented reality, VR, simulation, visualisation and virtual production.

The long-term aim is to be the heart of a thriving creative community built around world-class shared facilities, where resident students, academics and professionals mix and collaborate with national and international partners.

By providing additional capacity and impetus to coordinate interdisciplinary research, games-focused enterprise and international partnerships, SUGI will raise our profile and reputation, delivering significant value to the University. We will be a recognised brand to increase our research presence and through improved connections to industry, civic and international partners, help to progress student experience, outcomes and employability. We will:

  • Grow our national and international network and partnerships (profile, student exchanges, research and enterprise income)
  • Increase research base and activity (outputs, income and impact)
  • Develop local business and enterprise sector (employability and student experience)
  • Establish a games studio for students, graduates and staff (student experience, employability, staff CPD, income)

Vision

We will drive University of Staffordshire to become a recognised global centre of excellence in games, AR/VR/XR, simulation, virtual production and serious games through student experience, research activity, industry partnerships and social impact.

Mission

We want to use game technologies and techniques to improve people’s lives through pure entertainment, playful activities with a serious purpose, mechanics to improve engagement and communication and innovations in hardware and software.

We will provide games activity at the University with an interface to academia, industry, business and society locally, nationally and internationally. We are a vehicle for collaboration to promote interdisciplinary games-related activity.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

Top 5 for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2025

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021