University of Warwick’s Enterprise Fellowship Scheme to help e-learning move into the ‘Lara Croft’ era

Computer-based training programmes as entertaining and attention-grabbing as games like Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy are to be developed by a Coventry firm, following its involvement in the Enterprise Fellowship Scheme (EFS) and the award of a major grant from Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency. PIXELearning, based at Coventry University’s Technology Park, was established a year ago when former students Kevin Corti and Suraj Rana registered for the EFS programme run by the University of Warwick in Coventry.

The training and business advice given by EFS and its mentoring team has already helped the fledgling start-up win business throughout the UK and last month it was awarded a grant by Advantage West Midlands to help it develop its revolutionary software.

PIXELearning’s grant was received from the Innovative Actions Programme, a joint Advantage West Midlands and European Commission project which aims to help innovative ideas that have regional benefits, such as creating new employment, high growth potential and education and learning capabilities. The cash will be used to build the first working version of the software, and universities, colleges and training establishments stand to benefit by taking part.

“The key to success will be making sure that teachers and trainers who are not computer experts can easily build game-based programmes for themselves – just by going through a few simple steps and options,” said PIXELearning Technical Director Suraj Rana.

“To make this software the best in the world we are going to need feedback and we are looking for organisations to work with us and tell us what they are looking for from e-learning. We will then give these organisations access to two exemplar courses which we will create on a free-issue basis. Our target is to obtain feedback from 1,000 learners, so that we can get some ‘e-learning’ of our own.”

PIXELearning’s remarkable progress is the latest success for the EFS programme, which offers alumni, staff and students from participating universities the opportunity to turn their technology, science or engineering based ideas into successful businesses.

The programme was piloted and successfully trialled by the University of Warwick and Coventry University, and has recently spread to include the Universities of Central England in Birmingham, Keele, Staffordshire and Wolverhampton.

“EFS gives people a chance to turn their technology, science or engineering-based business dream into reality. Their ideas, vision and enthusiasm are given a welcome place to grow and as PIXELearning is showing this can happen incredibly quickly.” said EFS Director Isabell Majewsky.

The EFS project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Mercia Institute of Enterprise and in association with HSBC.

ENDS 19 DECEMBER 2003

For further information please contact Brian Dolby or Rebecca Southern on 0115 950 8399, or Kevin Corti on 024 7623 6000.

Note to Editors:

PIXELearning is an eLearning company which combines technology, the creative arts and an understanding of how people really learn in 21st century society.
The company was established in 2002 specifically to provide eLearning experiences (a combination of learning content and environment), which are designed, from the ground up, using game-based approaches and technologies.
Advantage West Midlands was established by the Government in April 1999 and is one of nine Regional Development Agencies operating in England. It acts as a strategic driver for sustainable economic development in the West Midlands, providing leadership and action to create more, better jobs and an enhanced quality of life for all in the West Midlands.


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