The International Esports Federation (IESF) has announced a partnership with the North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF).
The move will also see the appointment of Gerald Solomon, NASEF’s Executive Director, as Chair of the World Esports Education Commission.
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Through the partnership, IESF says it will use NASEF’s US Department of Education-approved school curriculums and programmes to help educators leverage esports as a tool for education and career preparation.
NASEF will provide all IESF member national federations with programme guidelines, professional development, and training to aid the implementation of educational resources and curriculums.
Solomon, who is also the Founder of NASEF, has been appointed Chair of IESF’s education commission in order to lead the global roll-out, according to a release.
He commented: “Youth around the world are enthralled with esports, so it makes sense to connect play and learning for all kids, no matter where they reside or their living circumstances.
“We’re excited to work with IESF member nations to implement our scholastic esports programmes to positively impact their students and position them to thrive and acquire the skills needed for high-demand careers.”
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Founded in 2008, IESF describes itself as a ‘unifying body’ for worldwide esports. It has 104 member nations and aims to bring together esports stakeholders to sustainably develop gaming worldwide.
NASEF is a North American non-profit body that utilises esports to develop STEAM-based skills and social attributes in students. It creates programmes, curriculums, and activities to build STEAM skills relevant for future work and life.
Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF, also commented on the collaboration: “Through this partnership, IESF will be providing significant additional educational resources to our 104 member nations. Across the world, educators are looking for compelling ways to connect with their students and teach them valuable skills in an enjoyable atmosphere.
“NASEF has spent years developing and refining its scholastic esports system, [and] this alliance will allow us to leverage that expertise for the benefit of IESF students and athletes worldwide.”
Esports Insider Says: Esports’ educational potential is increasingly being recognised and acted upon. As providers of education see the benefit of reaching esports’ largely young audiences in authentic ways, it’s worth watching how companies, sponsors and educational institutions navigate this space.