School Internship Games January 2025: Pupils Discover Games Industry in Hamburg Companies

The School Internship Games initiative serves as a recurring educational bridge between the Hamburg games industry and secondary education. Held in January 2025, the program provided 15 ninth-grade students with a comprehensive, three-week immersion into the professional landscape of video game development. The primary objective is to offer participants a realistic perspective on diverse career paths, including game design, art, technical development, narrative design, and project management, while facilitating early networking opportunities with established local studios.

The program is a collaborative effort involving Hamburg-based companies—specifically InnoGames, Fishlabs, and Playa Games—alongside the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) and the Initiative Creative Gaming e.V. Throughout the internship, students engaged in practical exercises, visited academic laboratories, and participated in a game jam to apply their learning in a professional environment. Media educators from the Initiative Creative Gaming e.V. provided ongoing support, ensuring students understood how to pursue further involvement in the industry beyond the internship period.

This initiative, which has been conducted seven times since 2021, represents a strategic effort to cultivate local talent and demystify the games sector for younger generations. By rotating participants through various studios and academic settings, the program ensures a broad exposure to both the creative and technical facets of the industry. The successful completion of the 2025 cycle, marked by a final presentation and the awarding of certificates, underscores the ongoing commitment of Hamburg’s games ecosystem to workforce development and educational outreach. Future iterations are already scheduled, reflecting the program's established role in the regional creative economy.