Category: News

Board Vacancy: Non-Executive Director (Education)

Scottish Esports is inviting applications for a new Non-Executive Director (Education) to join our Board of Directors. This voluntary role offers an exciting opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of esports education across Scotland.

Keeping the Classics Alive: Aberdeen’s Retro Gaming Scene Thrives

For over half a decade, Aberdeen has quietly become a haven for retro gaming enthusiasts, keeping the golden age of arcade and console classics alive through fierce competition and community spirit. From Pac-Man to Donkey Kong, Mario Kart to Pong, a dedicated group of gamers has ensured that the magic of 20th-century gaming lives on.

Scottish Games Skills Survey: Esports Organisations Encouraged to Participate

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An explorative industry survey has been launched by Scottish Games Network, seeking to provide a comprehensive analysis of the skills required to support the growth of the Scottish games industry including esports. This initiative, a partnership between Scottish Games Network, EKOS, and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), demonstrates a collaborative effort to strengthen the sector.

New Volunteer Writer for Scottish Esports

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Menu Home SEEMC2024 Resources Games About What is Scottish Esports? Contact Linkedin Facebook Instagram X-twitter Discord New Volunteer Writer for Scottish Esports February 18 2025 Mark McCready We’re thrilled to announce that Callum Doyle will be joining Scottish Esports as a volunteer Writer. Callum will help us in sharing stories from Scotland’s grassroots esports scene, celebrate national achievements, and connect to international esports news. His role will be key in amplifying the voices of Scotland’s esports community as we continue to grow and develop. Callum has a passion for esports journalism, having studied HND Journalism at Glasgow Clyde College, where he completed his Final Project on the college’s own esports journey. Currently, he is in his final year of a BA (Hons) Journalism degree at Edinburgh Napier University. While his experience in esports is still growing, Callum has followed the industry closely over the years, and we’re excited to support his journey and growth through his involvement with us. At Scottish Esports, our mission is to develop the esports ecosystem across Scotland, from grassroots initiatives to professional levels. By shining a light on the stories, players, and events that define our community, Callum will help raise awareness and bring fresh perspectives to esports in Scotland. We’re confident that his passion and writing will make a meaningful impact. We look forward to sharing Callum’s work with our community. From grassroots tournaments to broader industry trends, his content will showcase the diversity and talent within Scotland’s esports scene. Please join us in giving Callum a warm welcome to the team!   If you’re passionate about esports and would like to contribute to our mission, we plan to share more opportunities in the future. Together, we can build a thriving esports community here in Scotland. Linkedin Facebook Instagram X-twitter Discord

Scottish Esports in Education Mini-Conference 2024 (SEEMC2024) – In Review

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Menu Home SEEMC2024 Resources Games About What is Scottish Esports? Contact Linkedin Facebook Instagram X-twitter Discord Scottish Esports in Education Mini-Conference 2024 (SEEMC2024) – In Review December 16 2024 Mark McCready The inaugural Scottish Esports in Education Mini-Conference 2024 (SEEMC2024), held at the University of the West of Scotland’s Paisley Campus, was a landmark event for esports education in Scotland. Our event brought together 53 attendees, including educators, industry, and governance representatives, to explore the role esports is currently playing in the Scottish education system. With a focus on mapping current efforts, understanding the state of play, and gathering feedback on existing qualifications, SEEMC2024 marked an important step in shaping the future of esports education in Scotland. Mark McCready – CEO of Scottish Esports Mapping Educators and Institutions SEEMC2024 successfully highlighted the diversity of stakeholders involved in esports education. Attendees represented a wide array of settings: Colleges: 14 attendees Industry Professionals: 14 attendees Universities: 13 attendees Secondary Schools: 8 attendees Governance Representatives: 3 attendees Youth Work/Community Organisations: 1 attendee This mix underscores the collective interest and participation across different sectors of education, reflecting the growing recognition of esports as a valuable educational tool. 17 attendees confirmed their institutions are delivering esports qualifications, such as the SQA NPA Esports Levels 5 and 6. These institutions are at the forefront of integrating esports into educational frameworks, laying the groundwork for utilising esports in promoting accessible pathways for young and adult learners. Brian Baglow – Founder of Scottish Games Network Understanding the Current State of Play A key focus of SEEMC2024 was to assess the current understanding and integration of esports in education. Attendees brought yet another diverse range of experience levels to the table: Beginner (Basic Knowledge): 38% of attendees Advanced (Established Experience): 28% of attendees Intermediate (Active Involvement): 19% of attendees None (New to Esports): 9% of attendees Mixed/Combined Levels: 6% of attendees This diversity highlights both the enthusiasm for esports education and the need for tailored resources to support different levels of understanding in esports expertise. During the conference, educators expressed interest in understanding how esports aligns with existing curricula, how partnerships with the local/community organisations and industry can enhance student engagement through workshops and knowledge exchange. Including how esports can draw on governing principles that have introduced safeguarding and best practice to advocate and encourage the use/play/consumption of casual video gaming at younger school years for children. Josh Martin – Founder of SimStaff Primary Interests Attendee interests aligned closely with the goals of SEEMC2024, with the following themes emerging: Curriculum Development: Exploring how esports can be effectively integrated into educational frameworks. Building Partnerships: Collaborating with industry and governance to strengthen the esports education ecosystem. Learning about Esports in Education: Understanding best practices and innovations in the field. Feedback on Existing Qualifications Attendees delivering SQA esports qualifications provided valuable insights into their implementation. The SQA NPA Esports qualifications, particularly at Levels 5 and 6, were discussed extensively, with educators highlighting both successes and areas for improvement. Feedback focused on: Enhancing support materials and network opportunities for educators new to esports. Expanding the scope of qualifications to include diverse game genres, platforms and industry skills and potentially delivered through external workshops. Building clearer academic and career pathways for students while developing skillsets required to transition from education to esports careers. The conference identified the need for professional development opportunities to support educators in delivering esports programmes and for industry to implement trade best practice confidently and effectively. The current industry infrastructure is not established in Scotland and therefor leaves a gap in student progression into industry. Education pathways are being developed, however industry was identified to require more support in developing a rounded ecosystem. George Milliken – Education Officer (Digital) at Education Scotland Key Takeaways and Next Steps Expanding Educational Resources: SEEMC2024 highlighted a pressing need for comprehensive educational resources of international and Scottish industry to support educators across all levels of experience. Attendees recommended developing workshops, mentorship programmes, and practical guides for implementing esports in classrooms to share best practice. Strengthening Partnerships: Building connections between educational institutions, industry leaders, and governance bodies emerged as a top priority. Collaborative efforts will ensure esports programmes remain relevant and aligned with current industry needs in Scotland. Feedback Integration: Insights from educators delivering SQA qualifications will inform future amendments and development of a new HNC Esports qualification by SQA, ensuring they remain dynamic and impactful. Additionally, exploring how esports qualifications and activities can be implemented across Scotland in rural areas including Scottish Borders and the Highlands and Islands. Broader Engagement: While SEEMC2024 focused on formal education, a Scottish Esports takeaway identified the importance of engaging youth work and community organisations to make esports accessible to a wider audience. Particularly working on identifying the most effective way for esports to be implemented across schools, colleges and community in Local Authorities whilst supporting industry growth through community engagement. SEEMC2024 Attendees Closing Remarks SEEMC2024 demonstrated the great potential of esports to further education in Scotland. The conference succeeded in bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to share knowledge, build connections, and develop an inclusive path forward. As esports continues to grow globally, Scotland is positioned to lead the way in integrating this dynamic field into education. Scottish Esports would like to thank all attendees, speakers, and partners. specifically University of the West of Scotland including Gavin Baxter and Thomas Hainey, who contributed to the success of SEEMC2024. We look forward to building on the momentum generated and continuing to work collaboratively with our community to achieve these shared goals. Presentations and Slides Those that were unable to attend the conference or were wanting to look back on some of the presentations delivered can do so by accessing our Google Drive: Access Presentations For more information on the outcomes of SEEMC2024 and upcoming initiatives, please visit our website or contact the Scottish Esports team directly. Join our Scottish Esports Discord Server to connect with fellow gamers, introduce yourself, and stay updated on upcoming initiatives. 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Scottish Esports in Education Mini-Conference 2024 (SEEMC2024)

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Menu Home SEEMC2024 Resources Games About What is Scottish Esports? Contact Linkedin Facebook Instagram X-twitter Discord Scottish Esports in Education Mini-Conference 2024 (SEEMC2024) October 28 2024 Mark McCready Date: Friday, 15th November 2024Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMLocation: University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus   Theme: “What is Esports?” Scottish Esports, in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland, is excited to announce the inaugural Scottish Esports in Education Mini-Conference 2024 (SEEMC2024). This new annual event plans to establish a new network of esports and games educators from across Scotland sharing best practice and understanding of the role competitive video games play within Scottish education. The conference will feature speakers from across the educational sector, including representatives from Education Scotland Digital Team, leading academic institutions, and games industry expert, Brian Baglow of Scottish Games Network. Attendees will gain an understanding of how esports is influencing the educational landscape through the existing Scottish Qualification Authority’s NPA Esports qualification and upcoming HNC qualification in creating pathways for students in Scotland. The event will focus on case studies, and insights into how esports can be effectively integrated into educational frameworks, from primary schools through to higher education institutions. It will offer a platform for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to collaborate and drive forward the conversation on the value and impact of esports in today’s education system. Scottish Esports plans to take feedback from this event to develop resources and facilitate better support for the education sector, to ensure a positive impact on students and educators experiences. Key Features of SEEMC2024: Mapping of existing educators and their institutions that are delivering esports curriculum across Scotland. Explore the current understanding and state of play in Scottish esports education, including what resources would be useful to support educators and institutions. Develop feedback on existing esports qualifications being taught in Scotland. SEEMC2024 is a valuable opportunity for those in the education sector, including community outreach, school, college and university staff, and policymakers, to gain fresh insights into the evolving relationship between esports and education. This in-person conference will provide participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to implement esports activities for student engagement, skill development, and career readiness. Registration: Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. To secure your place at SEEMC2024, please register via the link below: Click here to register for SEEMC2024 For further details, please contact the Scottish Esports team at info@scotesports.org, or visit our website at https://scotesports.org  We look forward to welcoming you to SEEMC2024 and continuing the discussion on how esports can make a difference in Scotland.   About Scottish Esports Scottish Esports is the national body of esports, dedicated to the growth and development of competitive video gaming in Scotland. We are focussed on supporting casual gamers to esports players competing in teams, and the wider gaming community. As a team we are committed to creating opportunities to improve the standards and integrity of esports nationally. About University of the West of Scotland University of the West of Scotland is one of Scotland’s largest modern universities. It aims to have a transformational influence on the economic, social, and cultural development of the West of Scotland, and beyond, by providing relevant, high quality, inclusive higher education and innovative and useful research. The University aims to make the communities it serves more successful; and create opportunities for all to participate. Linkedin Facebook Instagram X-twitter Discord