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Digital Schoolhouse and Electronic Arts event returned to Dundee for a second consecutive year
Abertay University has once again welcomed school pupils and teachers from across Scotland to the Festival of Play, a creative careers and computing festival designed to inspire the next generation of games and technology talent.
Held on Wednesday 10 June, the event returned to Abertay for a second year following its successful first visit to Dundee in 2025.
Organised by Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse programme and sponsored by Electronic Arts, the festival featured interactive workshops, industry talks and hands-on activities showcasing the skills used across computing, games and technology.
Designed for pupils aged 9 to 14, the festival gave young people the chance to explore the creativity and technology behind video games, meet industry professionals and take part in activities linked to future skills and STEAM careers. Sessions included ‘The Magic of Computer Science’ with Professor Paul Curzon, ‘Playtest The Vault’ with Vault Learning, Pop-Up Level Design with LOWTEK Games, and a range of other hands-on learning activities.
The festival also offered professional development for teachers, supporting them to bring computing lessons to life through creative, interactive approaches.
Ryan Locke, Head of the Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education at Abertay University, said:
It’s been a pleasure to welcome the Festival of Play and the Digital Schoolhouse team back to Abertay for a second year. The event gives school pupils a valuable opportunity to explore the creativity, technology and career pathways connected to the games industry in a fun and interactive way. It is a natural fit with Abertay’s long-standing strength in games education and the wider creative sector. Following the success of last year’s event, it was fantastic to see Dundee once again host this opportunity for young people and teachers from across Scotland.
In 2025, Ukie launched Interactive Entertainment Scotland, a dedicated Scottish body created to champion the country’s growing games sector.
Ryan added:
It was also a valuable opportunity to collaborate with Gabriella Castaneda, Policy Engagement Manager at Interactive Entertainment Scotland, to host a boardroom session with national games industry experts exploring how education can support the development of future skills.
Shahneila Saeed, Programme Director for Digital Playhouse, said:
The energy around Festival of Play Dundee was incredible, and Digital Schoolhouse would like to thank Electronic Arts and Abertay University for everything they do to help make it happen. To see hundreds of children engaging with play-based computing and learning about careers in the video games industry is magical. Dundee’s rich history in video games makes it the ideal place to bring together industry, educators and policy stakeholders to support the next generation of digital creators and the skills systems that will help them develop. Scotland has long been at the forefront of the £8.6bn games industry in the UK, and by inspiring pupils and educators, we can help ensure it remains there for many years to come.
Jaimie Vargas, Head of Global Social Impact at Electronic Arts, said:
For half a decade, the Festival of Play has exemplified how play-based STEAM learning can ignite digital creativity and equip students with the skills to own their future. At Electronic Arts, we are incredibly proud to continue this partnership as it expands to five cities for its fifth anniversary. By providing access to these opportunities, we are helping to ensure that the next generation of innovators has the tools they need to thrive. Five years in, we are just getting started.
Throughout the day, pupils visited the Festival of Play exhibitor space, where games and technology companies including Ninja Kiwi, 4J Studios, SCAN, ClassVR, Bit Loom, Ant Workshop and LOWTEK Games showcased their work, answered questions and offered insight into creative and technical careers.
The programme also included a boardroom session attended by local industry representatives, government stakeholders and educators, focusing on the future of games and creative technology education.
