Family reunion for first class Ingrid

Ingrid Elin Dahl-Olsen moved from Norway three years ago to start her studies at the University of Teesside. Today, Thursday 22 November, she will graduate with a first class BA (Hons) Digital Character Animation. Proud parents Ivar and May-Tove will be flying over to watch their daughter graduate at Middlesbrough Town Hall. And Ingrid has clearly caught the Teesside study bug, as she has stayed on at the University to enrol on a master’s degree in Visual and Web Applications, to be completed in 2008.

Ingrid, 25, is originally from Åndalsnes, a small town called on Norway’s west coast. Before moving to Middlesbrough she lived in Canberra for a year, studying IT and Software Engineering at the Australian National University.

She chose her Middlesbrough move after researching online. Ingrid said: ‘Before I applied I didn’t know anything about animation, so it was hard to know what to look for when choosing a university. I used the British Council website and several university guides and found that Teesside was rated as one of the highest in computing and animation. The fact that they host an annual animation festival, Animex, made it especially attractive.’

Ingrid is full of enthusiasm for Animex. She said: ‘The festival is a chance to make important contacts and they arrange some very good guest speakers. I’d like to work in the film or animation industry. At the moment the dream job would be in one of the big animation and effects studios, but I would also really enjoy working for a smaller company.’

It hasn’t been all work and no play for Ingrid, however. She added: ‘I’ve made some really good friends here, which to me is the most important thing! The University and Middlesbrough has a lot to offer in social activities. There are some really nice restaurants and pubs, and the cinema is good.’

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