Welcoming Remarks & Opening Keynote | 2023 and Beyond: The Future of Esports in Higher Education

Esports in higher education is on the brink of another colossal wave - the pace of NCAA D1 institutions creating varsity programs is on the rise. About 80 percent of students involved in their varsity esports program are not involved in other activities on campus and keeping those students engaged is critical as we come toward the higher education cliff. The marketability of esports on the professional level has exploded and is receiving sponsorships and partnerships with global brands both endemic and non-endemic. What does this mean for universities and colleges? These topics and more will be discussed.

Leveling Up

Collegiate esports is quickly maturing. This panel discusses what’s next in esports and how new esports programs can take advantage of progress already made and how current programs can advance to the next level. Assembling stakeholders from within your institution and partnering with consultants are key to planning.

A Level Playing Field: The World of University Esports

The digital playing field is leveled in esports. Small community colleges can and do win national championships. From a student-centered, academic endeavor with a modest gaming room to varsity-level spectator arenas, esports experts and directors from leading colleges and universities discuss goals and objectives, challenges, and successes of their respective programs.

How to Leverage Your Community Cinema to Host Esports Events

LG's Heather Blair believes that the education sector, esports community, and local cinemas can make healthy business partners. By offering a venue for esports and gaming at cinema locations, schools can hold practices, tournaments, and watch parties. Cinemas benefit by bringing more people through their doors during down times and esports programs benefit from not needing to front the cost of some technologies. You might say it's a win, win. Blair shares how to get the conversation started and make the relationship work for your university or K-12.

Anatomy of an Esports Program: Planning, Infrastructure, Software, Hardware to Streaming

This expert panel explores the full gamut from infrastructure, signal distribution and the technologies needed to equip a university or K-12 esports program. Projectors, consoles, PCs, broadcast equipment, screens, virtual reality, interactive whiteboards, and more are filling these spaces at a rapid pace. What is needed to stream to YouTube and Twitch.

Ask The Experts!

Got some questions about esports technologies or programs? Head over to the Ask The Experts chat room where you'll be able to engage with our panelists and your peers.

Authentic SEL Through Esports

Scholastic esports provides an authentic space for meaningful social-emotional learning, including the application of diversity and inclusion practices while building community. Educators from NASEF will discuss how to build a K-12 esports program that builds social-emotional attributes such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities while developing career-focused STEAM skills. Not just sharing theories, panelists are educators who are actively leveraging esports in their classes and afterschool programs.

Codifying K-12 Esports Programs

Research demonstrates myriad benefits of scholastic esports programs, and schools and OST programs are now clamoring to implement them. The issue is no longer why, but how. This panel will provide practical insights for starting a program, whether implementing out-of-school-time clubs or classroom curriculum, whether approaching through Athletics/Activities or Education.

Closing Remarks