SINGAPORE: Renowned US computer animation and programming school DigiPen Institute of Technology has opened its first international school in Singapore.

As one of the world's leaders in game development education, the opening of DigiPen is seen as a boost to Singapore's goal to be an interactive digital media hub.

With the video game market set to be worth S$67 billion by 2011, Singapore is set to benefit from the new facility that DigiPen has set up in Singapore's Fusionopolis.

Trade and Industry Minister, Lim Hng Kiang, said: "As the first top foreign institution in Singapore offering courses in games and animation, DigiPen Singapore will play an integral role in addressing the digital media industry's manpower capability needs.

"DigiPen Singapore will also work closely with these animation and games companies, forging partnerships for research and the development of new techniques and tools."

The first batch of 40 students will have 10 teachers to guide them.

Claude Comair, Chairman and President, DigiPen Institute Technology, said: "We have been training ourselves to make sure that we can duplicate the education that we have in the United States here."

The DigiPen campus in Singapore plans to have about 1,000 students and 80 teachers eight years from now.

DigiPen is offering two four-year degrees - Bachelor of Fine Arts in Production Animation and Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation. It is currently accepting applications for its September intake.

Upon graduating, students can expect to join big animation companies like Lucas Films, which already has a presence here.

DigiPen said courses like Bachelor of Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation can be applied to different sectors such as automotive, aerospace and even banking.

Fees for local students cost a total of S$70,200 for the four-year course, about half the amount it will cost to study at DigiPen's US campus. International students will have to pay S$81,120 for the course. - CNA/vm