Over 100 delegates virtually attended Scotland’s first ever #EsportsinEducation Conference on Wednesday 24 March 2021. The conference was delivered in partnership with the British Esports Association on CDN’s Virtual Conference Centre platform. We were delighted to welcome delegates from all over the UK, as well as an international audience from countries including Australia, Denmark, Iceland, India, Japan, Nigeria, Sweden and USA.
We wanted to share some of our event highlights…
The rise of esports
The global esports market draws an audience of half a billion people and the UK’s esports market has seen an average annual increase of 8.5% between 2016 and 2019.
Chester King, founder of the British Esports Association, thinks that Scotland is in a brilliant position to capitalize on esports. He is keen to promote the values and transferrable skills of esports, and to create and develop education pathways. Chester said: ‘We believe the skills around esports are incredibly important.’
Chester King, @British_Esports founder is our first speaker today at the #EsportsinEducation Conference.
Why is #esports important as an activity? There are many benefits to playing, he says 👉 “It’s the most fully inclusive activity that you can play as a team.” pic.twitter.com/i3NLm7oDjX
— CDN (@ColDevNet) March 24, 2021
Esports in education
Mark McCready, British Esports Association’s Scotland representative, explained how he set up the Esports Society whilst studying at Queen Margaret University. The society, which is student-led through the university’s student unions, has been a great way for students to stay connected during the pandemic. Mark said: ‘The esports industry provides opportunities for a lot of different roles and professions.’
@MarkMcCreadyUK ,@British_Esports ‘s Scotland representative set up the #esports Society at @QMUniversity 🎮
Getting involved as a student has resulted in plenty of other opportunities for Mark, including helping to develop the esports scene in #Scotland👌 #EsportsinEducation pic.twitter.com/MYwowSMQIu
— CDN (@ColDevNet) March 24, 2021
We also heard from Forth Valley College’s Student President Andrew Smirthwaite, who spoke about what it was like to compete in the first Scottish College Cup video gaming competition in November 2020. Andrew also explained how clubs and societies help students to grow:
Andrew Smirthwaite, @FVCollege Student Association President says that the Forth Valley Gaming Society has provided a much needed safe, online space during the pandemic.
“Gaming societies help people to grow. Benefits include: peer support, fun, community.” #EsportsinEducation pic.twitter.com/ScbbNRCQ26
— CDN (@ColDevNet) March 24, 2021
Several colleges in Scotland are already providing esports opportunities, explained Michael Griffiths, Glasgow Clyde College’s Senior Lecturer in Computing, who shared how the college has introduced esports into the curriculum. ‘Creating a non-toxic, respectable environment is vital for encouraging females into esports,’ he added.
“We want to widen the gaming side of the curriculum”,
Michael Griffiths, Senior Computing Lecturer at @Glasgow_Clyde explains how the college is providing esports opportunities. #EsportsinEducation #Scotland pic.twitter.com/gsjyDPgiea
— CDN (@ColDevNet) March 24, 2021
Esports in schools
Emma Liston, a music teacher at Alva Academy, created an esports team at the school, and told us about the benefits she has seen in pupils joining, which include increased confidence and building relationships with peers. Her advice is to ‘make esports appeal to your senior management team.’
Fascinating to hear from @AlvaAcademy music teacher Emma Liston who created a school #esports team because there was so much demand for it.
“Within a few months I had 50+ students asking to join the club. They absolutely adore it,” she says. #EsportsinEducation #Scotland pic.twitter.com/MKQJzbAECA
— CDN (@ColDevNet) March 24, 2021
Women in Esports
Morgan Ashurst, Marketing Manager, and Alice Leaman, Schools and Colleges Liaison Officer at the British Esports Association, spoke candidly about the campaign to celebrate women within the esports industry. Morgan said: ‘It is still seen as a male-dominated industry and since more people are joining the industry, we are looking at the role education plays in helping to increase female participation.’
Morgan Ashurt and Alice Leaman from @British_Esports talk about the Women in Esports initiative which is looking at how to increase female participation in #esports
“We need to ensure the esports community is safe and inclusive,” says Alice. #EsportsinEducation #Scotland pic.twitter.com/uWJ8YcXBBi
— CDN (@ColDevNet) March 24, 2021
If you missed the conference or want to revisit the event, then you will be pleased to hear that the event is now available to watch back on CDN’s event platform.
Watch the event back on CDN’s virtual conference platform
