If middleware company Unity is to be believed, demand for its development software from schools, colleges and universities is at an all time high.

Indeed, even though the firm has proclaimed its engine as the most popular in higher education, Unity isn't resting on its laurels.

In a blog post detailing the growth of game development courses across the globe, North American sales director Davey Jackson has revealed Unity is to give away 60 Nexus One handsets - along with copies of Unity Android Pro and Unity Pro - to the establishments that put forward the best curriculum proposal that makes use of the Unity platform.

Needing education

Called the Unity Mobile Generation Education project, three schools will be awarded 20 handsets each, which can be used for 18 months while they prepare for the second round of the competition, where they must provide examples of the lectures they plan to offer in their respective courses.

“Unity is also firmly committed to supporting the Google Android platform," Jackson says in the entry.

"We strongly feel that competition in the mobile handset and tablet PC markets will create lucrative opportunities for mobile developers.

"However, in our eagerness to kick start Unity Android game production, we do not want to skip over the important role schools play in shaping the next generation of application designers."

The first round of the competition kicked off June 6, with all proposals needing to be in by August 25.

The winning schools will be announced on September 5, with second round submissions due by October 2.

For more details, check out the Unity blog.