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Digital Schoolhouse and Electronic Arts events inspires next generation of video game professionals
Over 250 school pupils and 30 teachers from across Scotland took part in a major creative careers and computing conference hosted at Abertay University.
Held on Tuesday 10 June, the Festival of Play aimed to inspire young people by showcasing a wide range of career opportunities within the video games industry.
Organised by trade body Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse programme the event was run in partnership with Electronic Arts and featured interactive workshops, presentations from industry professionals, and demonstrations of innovative games.
The programme included a variety of workshops and activities covering a broad range of topics. Highlights included “Character Design” led by Ninja Kiwi Europe, “How Do Computers Learn?” focusing on machine learning for kids, and “Pop-Up Level Design” with Lowtek Games, where participants created their own pop-up book and transformed their designs into playable digital levels.
The keynote speech was delivered by Dr Alexander Horrowitz of Criterion Games, an Electronic Arts Studio, and renowned game developer and audio specialist, who shared insights into his career journey and his expertise within the industry.
In addition to talks and workshops, the event featured exhibition stands from a total of 13 games companies and industry partners, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with creative professionals. Exhibitors included BitLoom, Electronic Arts, Hermit House, Ice Beam Games, Konglomerate Games, Lowtek Games, Moss Monkey Games, Ninja Kiwi Europe, Purr Point Productions, Scan Computers, Tranzfuser, and VTEC.
Ryan Locke, Head of Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education at Abertay University, said:
It was fantastic to host the Festival of Play at Abertay and welcome so many bright young minds onto our campus to explore careers in the STEAM subjects . With a long-standing commitment to nurturing talent within the creative industries, we are proud to be part of the event and to help inspire the next generation of innovators – the future of Scotland's creative sector relies on keyopportunities like this. It was wonderful to see pupils and teachers alike enjoying themselves, engaging with opportunities in technology, gaming, and the arts, interact with games companies directly, and discovering the exciting possibilities that await them.
The conference offered a valuable opportunity for teachers as well as pupils. It provided a platform for continuing professional development, enabling teachers to enhance their skills and deliver engaging computing lessons that incorporate fun and interactive teaching methods.
Siân Mayhall Purvis, Senior Education Programme Officer at Ukie, said:
We were thrilled to be able to bring the Festival of Play to Scotland for the first time, thanks to the continued support of Electronic Arts. Dundee’s reputation as a creative hub for the UK’s world-leading video games industry is well known, so bringing the festival here provides hugely exciting opportunities for students to learn about what careers opportunities can be available in video games.
Jaimie Vargas, Head of Global Social Impact at Electronic Arts,said:
The Festival of Play exemplifies how play-based STEAM learning can ignite creativity and equip students with next-generation skills that help them unlock their potential. We are delighted to continue this partnership and provide even more students across the UK with access to these valuable opportunities.
Digital Schoolhouse is delivered by the UK games industry trade body Ukie and is backed by the video games industry and government. Sponsors include Nintendo, Electronic Arts, Xbox, and Ubisoft.
