New National Games Qualification and Skills Forum to Headline 2026 Education Symposium

PAISLEY, SCOTLAND – The Scottish Games Education Network (SGEN) has announced that the 2026 Scottish Games Education Symposium will serve as the launchpad for two of the most significant developments in the nation’s games talent pipeline: the unveiling of a new dedicated games qualification and the formal mapping of a Scottish Games Skills Forum.

Taking place at West College Scotland on Tuesday, 3 March, the symposium is issuing a targeted call to arms for studio heads, industry leaders, and creative stakeholders to help shape the future of Scottish games education.

Spotlight on Scotland’s New Games Qualification

A centerpiece of this year’s event is the work of Dr. Amanda Ford, who has been leading the development that sees a brand new games qualification for Scotland’s colleges after much consultation on the current one that we have. This new framework represents a major shift in how talent is prepared for the workforce, ensuring that the next generation of developers possesses the specific technical and creative competencies demanded by modern studios.

The symposium provides a first look at how this qualification will standardise excellence across the country, with Dr. Ford presenting the roadmap for its implementation.

Building the Scottish Games Skills Forum

Beyond the classroom, the event will initiate a vital mapping exercise to establish a Scottish Games Skills Forum. This body is designed to meet a key recommendation of Level Up the National Games Action Plan and provide Scotland with a unified voice capable of engaging with the UK-government mandated UK Games Skills Forum.

Industry participants will be invited to help:

• Map the Landscape: Identify the existing organisations, platforms, and events that currently drive skills development.
• Identify Key Stakeholders: Define the individuals and groups that must have a seat at the table.
• Define the Remit: Outline the composition and specific responsibilities of the Forum to ensure it serves the actual needs of Scottish studios.

A Call to Industry and Stakeholders

While Scotland’s educators are already mobilising behind Dr. Ford’s new curriculum, the success of these initiatives depends on industry integration. We are inviting studio founders, HR leads, technology providers, and public sector organisations to participate in these foundational discussions.

“We are moving from a collection of individual programs to a coordinated national strategy,” says the SGEN. “Dr. Ford’s work on qualifications gives us the foundation; the Skills Forum will give us the architecture to sustain it. We need industry expertise in the room to ensure both are fit for purpose.”

Scottish Games Education Symposium Details

• Date: Tuesday, 3 March 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Venue: West College Scotland, Paisley Campus
• Tickets: Industry and stakeholder registration is now open via Ticket Tailor

Call For Educators & Industry: 2025 Games Education Symposium To Bridge Gap With Wider Creative Sector

The Scottish Games Education Symposium (SGES) a partnership between Scottish Games Education Network and The Scottish Games Network, is thrilled to announce the date, location, and focus of its highly anticipated 2025 event. Taking place on November 19, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 4 PM, the symposium will be sponsored and hosted by West College Scotland in its Paisley campus.

This year we are reaching out to those in the creative industries as well as games development. Currently, the HN Games Development course explores the full spectrum of creating interactive experiences – from initial planning and design to programming, art and animation, storytelling, and sound. While rooted in creativity, the course also develops highly transferable skills that prepare students for a wide range of professional opportunities.

Yet, despite the breadth of creativity involved in making games, Game Development is not always fully recognised as part of the wider creative industries collective. This symposium seeks to bridge the gap between Games, Art & Animation, Storytelling and Sound production. Given that students may study these different subjects at the same institution, but not be aware of the potential creative opportunities between courses.

Purpose of the Day

We are bringing together voices from across the creative industries to:

• Share perspectives on how games are currently viewed within the wider creative landscape.
• Explore opportunities for stronger collaboration between games and other creative fields.
• Discuss how education can better equip students with skills that align with the evolving needs of the creative sector.

By fostering dialogue and collaboration, our goal is to ensure that graduates leave education with not only technical expertise but also the creative and interdisciplinary skills to thrive in a variety of career pathways.

The event is a must-attend for educators seeking to stay ahead of the curve in games education. Business leaders and employers are also encouraged to apply to attend and share their insights from an industry perspective and build stronger connections with educators, academics and institutions across Scotland.

To attend the Scottish Games Education Symposium 2025- Apply Here!

Partners & Sponsors Welcome

The Lead Sponsor of the 2025 Scottish Games Education Symposium is West College Scotland.

The SGEN and SGN welcome any organisations that would like to support the delivery of the Scottish Games Education Symposium 2025. This is an ideal opportunity for businesses which are interested in helping the next generation of games and creative industries talent and connecting with the entire Scottish games ecosystem.

To be a part of this year’s event, please contact us directly.

#art #audio #creativeIndustries #education #EducationSymposium #games #glasgow #scotland