Game Designer Course Guide Fellow

Background

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) global organization mandated to leverage the role of the private sector in development. The ICPSD was established in Istanbul, Türkiye based on the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the United Nations Development Program in March 2011. The center is one of the six global thematic policy centers of UNDP, supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. ICPSD leads UNDP’s global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDP’s offices all around the world. 

UNDP’s Istanbul International Centre for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) and Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation partnered for Online Game Development Bootcamp for fostering innovation and skill development within the gaming industry in the UAE. The bootcamp is built upon HP’s online learning initiative “HP Gaming Garage”. It is designed to provide aspiring game developers, designers, and enthusiasts with a skills development platform to enhance their skills, explore new ideas, and create impactful game projects.

In this context, the Game Designer Course Guide Fellow will support the bootcamp’s training activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Game Designer Course Guide Fellow will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

	Duties and responsibilities	% of time
1	Support the Training component Plan and prepare materials for on online game development bootcamp; Conduct weekly online sessions on topics covering online game development bootcamp in Arabic and English; Host office hours for learners’ questions and inquiries; Teaching and assistance to students individually or in small groups; Facilitate communications and discussions among learners; Monitor and report each learner’s progress; Cultivate a positive, organized learning atmosphere.	50 %
2	Support Community component in UAE Support ICPSD in organizing community events and engaging participants to the Programme; Facilitate communications and discussions within the community;	30 %
3	Support capstone projects, hackathons and project formulation and deployment throughout the Project;	10 %
4	Other Provide as needed support to the Technical Specialist as required for, amongst others, participating in meetings, conferences, providing administrative support, drafting meeting minutes and performing other functions and duties.	10 %

Competencies

Competencies and attitude:

• Interest in innovative teaching, learning and assessment;
• Flexibility and capacity to teach (remotely) across a range of game programming and design courses;
• Willingness and capacity to undertake continuous professional development related to technology use and to teach on these matters;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presentation skills, both face-to-face and online;
• Displays culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent with deadlines;
• Self-driven and open to self-development;
• Ability to understand the needs and challenges faced by adult learners;
• Strong attention to detail including skills in record keeping and records management;
• Genuine interest and commitment to help students achieve their goals;
• Good operations management skills;
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• currently enrolled in a postgraduate program (such as a master’s program or higher) OR
• have graduated with a university degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: computer science, engineering, game development or a related field.

IT skills:

• Must have proven experience of game development engines like Unity and C#, C++.
• Must have proven experience in at least 2 game development projects as game designer. Requirements for completed projects can be fulfilled through university coursework or personal projects that demonstrate relevant skills and experience.
• Strong understanding of game mechanics, level, and narrative design.
• Expertise in 2D/3D modeling, texturing, and animation for game assets.
• Ability to create sound effects, compose music, and integrate audio into games.
• Demonstrated proficiency in utilizing Unity Canvas and designing interactive UI / UX elements in completed projects.
• Proficiency of graphic design tools, including the Adobe Suite or equivalent software demonstrated in CV.
• Proven experience in 3D modeling using tools such as Blender or 3D Max
• Basic understanding of Unity and C#, with familiarity in game engine functionality and scripting.
• Proven experience of working with agile development methodologies is a strong asset.
• Hands-on experience in applying game design principles and creating detailed game design documentation for game projects.
• Interest and/or experience in online community platforms, such as Discord, Circle is an asset.

Language skills:

• Fluency in Arabic and English is required.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post;
• Current and complete CV in English;
• Please group all your documents into one single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Candidates who are selected for must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

• Official document(s) confirming meeting at least one of the educational requirements.

Stipend:

During the time of the fellowship, UNDP will provide a monthly stipend.