University of Canterbury partners with Wallace and Gromit creators

CHRISTCHURCH, Today: Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) has signed a multi-year agreement with the training arm of Academy Award® winning Aardman Animations.

This transformative partnership positions UC as the sole educational institution in New Zealand and the Pacific specialising in Aardman’s iconic stop-motion animation. It’s a major opportunity for UC’s animation students, particularly those in the Bachelor of Digital Screen with Honours program.

Mark Simon Hewis, Head of the Aardman Academy, shared his enthusiasm: “It’s incredibly exciting to welcome the University of Canterbury as an educational partner with the Aardman Academy.

Hewis also added: “Canterbury is our first and only educational partner in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, so our relationship and activities in the coming years are even more special. We can’t wait to get going with world-leading animation insight, support and learning from our Aardman staff and Aardman Academy team.”

“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome the University of Canterbury as an educational partner with the Aardman Academy.” – Mark Simon Hewis

The collaboration was facilitated by Kōawa, the newly rebranded initiative from UC, formerly known as Digital Screen Campus. Sam Witters, initiative Director, explains, “We want to ensure our graduates are not just exploring what is happening in the creative technology sectors.”

He continues, “The partnerships Kōawa brings to the University will ensure our students have a finger on the pulse of future trends of the industries into which they’ll graduate and work.”

Professor Kevin Watson, Executive Dean of Arts, emphasises the foundational concept of Kōawa: “It was built on the idea of the convergence between education and industry, creating an ecosystem where students learn from both academic experts and industry partners, ensuring we produce graduates with the creative and technical skills employers need to grow the sector and change the world through storytelling.”

UC’s legacy as a cinematic landmark is well-established, and now, it is set to shape the next generation of industry leaders.