ESI Next Gen 2024 was a networking event held in the Cheng Kar Shun Digital Hub at Jesus College, Oxford. The event aimed to bring together various educational stakeholders, among those students, lecturers, brands, charities, etc. For students from the Intel FutureGen 2024 cohort, this was a landmark opportunity where they were able to show off their achievements and meet new people in the industry.
I absolutely loved the event, spotting old faces and discovering new ones. It was a platform to strengthen the friendships I had formed with the cohort and to make new contacts. The event also gave me the opportunity to volunteer as stage manager for the first time, which was definitely a little challenging, but all went well in the end, learning many new skills and gaining confidence in the process.
Moreover, my work within my esports society and personal achievements, such as being part of the Intel FutureGen cohort, gave me the opportunity to speak on a panel. It enabled me to share my ideas on gaming societies, their relationship with universities and my work in sponsorships and social media, all topics that I am very passionate about. Presenting opportunities such as these to students further validates our hard work that often goes unrecognised. It felt very gratifying being able to share my experiences to a wider audience.
The talks throughout the day were very informative and I learned a lot of new things that I will be taking into consideration in my work. Many of these also prompted conversations that gave me new perspectives and insights into relevant topics in esports.
The exhibits scattered throughout the venue were very intriguing and welcoming. RadStuff showcased their Alloy Collectors line of sports jersey collectables, while next door, ESG Gaming showcased how VR technology can help the elderly socially and mentally. YoyoTech were set up near the stage showing off some of their brilliant PC setups. It was really eye-opening talking to all of them about what they do within the esports and gaming scene because as students, our exposure to the scope of businesses in the industry is often limited.
Overall, the event was a brilliant opportunity for me to network with new people and find out more about what is currently being discussed in esports. I would definitely recommend attending events such as ESI Next Gen for anyone wanting to get involved in esports or learn about different educational stakeholders in the industry.
CREDIT FOR ALL IMAGES: BRYCE GLENWRIGHT
