Mastering Unreal Engine: Tim van Kan shares his journey as an authorized instructor

Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got involved with Unreal Engine? 

Tim: ‘Sure! I actually studied at BUas (Breda University of Applied Sciences). Back then, we primarily worked with Unity. However, in my second year, we could switch to Unreal Engine, and my focus shifted entirely to Unreal Engine.’  

‘During my fourth year, instead of doing a work placement, another student and I decided to create our own game called "Aron’s Adventure". After graduating, we wanted to publish the game ourselves. We worked on it part-time while also holding other jobs, like selling tools on the Unreal Engine marketplace.’ 

‘After a while, I started receiving requests from companies to help them with Unreal Engine-related projects. That's when Unreal Engine introduced the authorized instructor program. I decided to pursue it. The authorized instructor for Unreal Engine certification offers recognition and proof of specific knowledge about Unreal Engine. The certification process involves assessments and recording a training session, among other things.’ 

‘For those who don't know, Unreal Engine is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games. Epic Games has a lot of online training materials. I have the privilege to have been part of Epic Games' education team for about four years, working with them on a part-time basis, before working at Breda University of Applied Sciences.’ 

Could you tell us more about your game and the experience of releasing it? 

Tim: ‘It was an incredible and oftentimes overwhelming experience. My friend and I managed to release our game, which was a fantastic collaborative achievement. We were fortunate to receive a mega-grant from Epic Games, which provided us with significant funding and access to a talented pool of people who were interested in helping us. We even had professional voice-acting done by a studio free of charge. Additionally, we were approached by IMA Score, known for creating music for game trailers, film trailers, and theme parks, who provided us with an amazing soundtrack. It was a long journey with many ups and downs but we both learned so much seeing this through to the end. The result is something we're both very proud of.’  

What does Unreal Engine mean for the industry and what are your thoughts on the future of this tool? 

Tim: 'Unreal Engine is constantly evolving as a platform. For example, it's being used in XR (extended reality) stages, TV and film production, architectural visualization, product promotion, and so much more. It's incredible to see how many different industries can benefit from a single program like Unreal Engine. As for the future, I believe AI will have a significant impact, although it's still unclear how it will shape Unreal Engine itself. However, for designers, it will undoubtedly offer even more possibilities and power.’ 

‘My main goal is to instil enthusiasm for Unreal Engine in my students. I try to show them as much as possible and encourage them to play and experiment with the tool. Unreal Engine opens up a world of possibilities, and I want my students to embrace it.’  

That concludes our interview with Tim van Kan. We thank him for sharing his experiences and insights into the world of Unreal Engine. You can find Tim on LinkedIn.