UBC Extended Learning Partners with Circuit Stream to Launch New AR/VR Courses

Courses in extended reality (XR) will help open new career opportunities in Vancouver in the fast-growing XR development industry.

University of British Columbia Extended Learning (UBC ExL) and Circuit Stream have partnered to offer extended reality (XR) training programs targeted to BC learners. The hands-on, project-based courses are designed to help students earn several credentials certifying their skills in the rapidly growing 3D technology market.

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“Partnering with education expert Circuit Stream enables us to scale our course offerings and meet the needs of BC’s fast-evolving technology sector. These courses offer students real-world, job-ready skills that will help them succeed in an XR development career.”

Vancouver has established itself as a globally recognized centre for gaming, film, entertainment, and other interactive media. More than 150 game companies employ 6,000 professionals based in Vancouver, making it a prime location for augmented and virtual reality development. The global AR/VR industry is estimated to grow by around 25% through 2021 and skills training in this field will help boost the BC economy and prepare students for jobs in high-growth technology sectors of the future like AR/VR.

The new UBC Extended Learning XR Development with Unity program gives students the choice of two paths in XR development, and a third, soon-to-be-introduced path, in XR design. Each path offers Circuit Stream’s leading curriculum. Students will learn real-time 3D skills throughout both paths and gain the experience needed for various careers in the XR industry.

Upon completion, students receive an XR Developer or XR Designer digital badge from Circuit Stream, a certificate of completion from the University of British Columbia Extended Learning, and the chance to earn an Associate Certification from technology partner Unity.

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The three courses being offered are:

• XR Development: A 10-week live online course that introduces the fundamentals of creating XR applications with Unity.
• XR Design: A 10-week live online course that explores best practices to design and prototype intuitive, usable and human-centered experiences for XR.
• C# Scripting: A 4-week course that teaches C#, the core programming language of Unity.

The courses are beginner friendly and there are no prerequisites.

“The industry demand for individuals with Unity 3D and XR training is continuing to rise. It’s through partnerships with top Canadian universities like UBC Extended Learning that enable us to raise the skill level for future talent in technology markets, and provide students with a significant advantage for in-demand careers in XR development,” said Circuit Stream CEO Lou Pushelberg about the collaboration with UBC ExL.

Adds Larry Bouthillier, Executive Director for UBC Extended Learning, “Partnering with education expert Circuit Stream enables us to scale our course offerings and meet the needs of BC’s fast-evolving technology sector. These courses offer students real-world, job-ready skills that will help them succeed in an XR development career.”

Graduates of Circuit Stream’s XR courses have found job opportunities with companies including Facebook, Unity, Accenture and numerous fast-growing start-ups.

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