US publisher Zynga has partnered with the University of Southern California to promote the study of social mobile games, inclusive game production and advancing diversity in the industry.

Zynga has made a “substantial gift” to USC that will fund three years of class curriculum and an event series of panels and lectures relating to inclusivity and diversity in games.

The class will focus on creating social mobile games innovation using Zynga’s own design methodology.

It will commence in autumn 2017 through to spring 2020 and is aimed at advancing social mobile game design, as well as incorporating best practices for team building production.

Any students from across the USC campus interested in game design, inclusivity and diversity in the development of social mobile games will be able to access the course.

Supporting the next generation

The series of events will cover production, creative and engineering topics hosted by experts representing various disciplines in the social mobile sector, including the publisher’s Women at Zynga employee group.

Zynga has also partnered with the Marshall School of Business on a Product Management Bootcamp for MBA candidates, which will take on new students in autumn 2017.

"We're proud to partner with the USC School of Cinematic Arts to invest in the next generation of social game developers," said Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau.

"We're continually impressed with the USC faculty and inspired by our interactions with students across the campus. USC has always taken a cutting-edge approach to advancing the intersection of entertainment and business innovation, and we're thrilled to share our unique view on how to blend art and science disciplines in social mobile gaming.

“As a proud alumni, it's also rewarding to see a diverse mix of Zynga employees return to USC to share their skills and perspectives on new tech frontiers and career opportunities in gaming."