By Haley Herfurth
The membership enables UAB students, faculty and staff to request no-cost, voucher-based access to Unity courseware, practice test content and certification exams.Through a new membership with the Unity Academic Alliance, UAB students and employees can earn industry-recognized certifications in programming, artistry and game development from Unity, a real-time software development platform used create content for virtual, augmented and mixed reality, AI-driven simulations, 2D and 3D video games.
The membership enables UAB students, faculty and staff to request no-cost, voucher-based access to Unity courseware, practice test content and certification exams. Available certifications include Certified Associate Programmer, Certified Associate Artist and Certified Associate Game Developer.
“There is a high demand for Unity developers in a variety of industries ranging from engineering to film and animation,” said Dorothy Ogdon, head of Emerging Technology and System Development for UAB Libraries. “Providing access to no-cost certification and courseware for asynchronous self-directed learning is one way UAB Libraries can support students as they integrate what they learn in academic programs with platform-specific skills to develop portfolios of work to build experience that will support their job searches following graduation.
Interested Blazers can attend a Unity interest session noon-1 p.m. Jan. 18 in Sterne 174 and Feb. 29 in Sterne 163 to learn more about UAB’s new membership in the alliance and see a demonstration of Unity products.
Certified Associate Game DeveloperThe benefits of certification
Shivani Palaparthi, a graduate student in the computer science program in the College of Arts and Sciences, says that obtaining Unity certifications through the new UAB Libraries Unity membership will give her a leg up both in her academic work and after graduation.
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“Providing access to no-cost certification and courseware for asynchronous self-directed learning is one way UAB Libraries can support students as they integrate what they learn in academic programs with platform-specific skills to develop portfolios of work to build experience that will support their job searches following graduation.” |
“These courses help increase our creative thinking along with the logical thinking that we use when we use Unity,” she explained. “They will help us in getting a better job based on the course that we take. Being in college, it'll help us streamline the path we want to work in, and as a student, we have plenty of time to learn a lot more.”
She added that she would encourage any student, not just those in her program or related ones, interested in the field of extended reality to pursue Unity certifications.
Cori Perdue, director of Professional Education in the Collat School of Business, says that her department has designed pilot programs for virtual and extended reality trainings for corporate clients and is interested in working to develop more custom trainings for professionals and students moving forward — something for which she says the Unity certifications will prove especially useful.
“Research has shown that people learn faster, are more engaged, and retain information better when using XR training,” Perdue explained, citing a PWC study that revealed employees trained using virtual reality were four times more focused than e-learners, learned four times faster than in classroom trainings on average, and were 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the material than classroom learners. Perhaps most impressive, especially for student learners, is that those trained in virtual reality are 275% more confident to act on what they learn after completing their training.
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Attend a Unity interest session and demonstration Learn more about UAB’s new membership in the Unity Academic Alliance and how it can help Blazers learn to code, sharpen programing skills, and discover more about digital design. |
“We are interested in working with students, faculty, and professionals who have Unity certifications to help us grow,” she continued. “We would love to find UAB faculty, staff, and students who have gone through the UNITY Certified Instructor Program to help us offer professional Unity courses to our community.”
Completing Unity certifications can ensure that UAB continues to remain at the forefront of innovation, Perdue explains — and can help professionals and students alike meet the ever-increasing demand for individuals proficient in programming, artistry and game development.
“This is not just a certification; it’s a pathway to unlocking new doors and embracing the next level of our professional journey,” Perdue said. “Embracing these certifications not only equips us with the latest knowledge and skills but also positions us strategically in a job market with increasing opportunities related to creating extended reality training, game creation, and more.”
How to get started
Blazers can begin earning Unity certifications by requesting vouchers through the UAB Libraries partnership. Once an employee or student has selected a learning pathway (Programmer, Artist or Game Developer), they can request courseware, practice test and certification exam vouchers through UAB Libraries.
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“[These courses] will help us in getting a better job based on the course that we take. Being in college, it'll help us streamline the path we want to work in, and as a student, we have plenty of time to learn a lot more.” |
Employees also can request Unity Academic Alliance member portal access to view curricular frameworks and other materials to support instruction and classroom use of Unity for different applications.
“We are excited to offer this type of resource for learning through Emerging Technologies in the UAB Libraries,” Ogdon said. “Unity is a popular tool for developing a variety of applications and settings, including virtual reality experiences. By offering this resource, we hope to be the starting point for anyone interested in creating for virtual reality at UAB, whether they are interested in research applications, teaching or personal projects. While earning a certification won’t guarantee a position, it is a way to signal to employers you’ve got real-world experience.”
Visit the Unity Academic Alliance page in the technology labs research guide from UAB Libraries to learn more; request information using this form.
