GEMS Education has appointed Chester King, Founder and President of British Esports, as its Esports Ambassador as the education group works to develop a more connected approach to esports across its schools. The initiative will bring together existing esports activities across the GEMS network, including competitions, learning resources, qualifications and specialist facilities, with a focus on linking these activities to education, skills development and career exploration.
GEMS School of Research and Innovation (SRI) will serve as a hub for the programme, supporting research, expert engagement and the sharing of practices between schools. The initiative is expected to include teacher development, webinars, age-appropriate learning resources, industry sessions and competitions involving students across the network.
Rather than focusing solely on competitive gaming, the programme will explore the wider range of skills and careers associated with the gaming and esports industry. These include game design and development, production, broadcasting, coaching, data and analytics, event management and entrepreneurship.
The move comes as gaming and esports gain greater attention in the UAE, where the sector is increasingly linked to digital skills, content creation and the development of future talent. Dubai’s Program for Gaming 2033 aims to position the emirate among the world’s top 10 gaming hubs by 2033, with the programme focusing on areas including talent, content and technology.
For schools, the growing industry creates an opportunity to use esports as a context for developing skills that extend beyond gaming itself. Teamwork, strategy, communication, problem-solving and technology are among the areas that can be incorporated into structured educational programmes.
Dino Varkey, Group CEO of GEMS Education, said the initiative would build on activities already taking place across individual schools. “Education has to keep pace with the interests, opportunities and industries that are shaping young people’s lives. At GEMS, our role is not simply to follow these developments, but to help students engage with them thoughtfully and purposefully,” said Varkey.
“We have the scale, diversity and educational expertise to connect what individual schools are already doing in esports and create opportunities for students to learn from experts, develop transferable skills and understand the many pathways that exist beyond playing,” explained Varkey. Varkey said SRI’s role as a hub would help support the development of the programme across the wider school network.
King will contribute experience from the esports sector as GEMS develops its network-wide approach. “Esports can be a powerful platform for education when it is approached with purpose. It brings together competition, creativity, strategy, teamwork and technology, while opening doors to a much wider range of careers and opportunities than professional play alone,” said King.
“GEMS has already developed meaningful experience across its schools, and I am excited to help connect that experience across the network. The opportunity is to create an environment where students can participate safely, teachers are supported, and young people can learn directly from people working across the global esports and gaming industry,” added King.
King founded the British Esports Federation in 2016 and currently serves as its President. He is also a Vice President of the Global Esports Federation and the European Esports Federation, and was a founding member of the International Olympic Committee’s Esports and Gaming Liaison Group. His experience also includes involvement with esports organisations including London Royal Ravens and Resolve.
The GEMS initiative is also expected to address the wider considerations associated with gaming in an educational environment, including safeguarding, digital citizenship, healthy habits, inclusion and responsible participation. The programme will explore recognised qualifications and industry pathways alongside competition, giving students an opportunity to understand the range of roles that exist within the gaming and esports economy.
For GEMS, the initiative represents an effort to connect an activity already present in parts of its school network with a broader educational framework, while giving teachers and students greater access to industry expertise and opportunities to explore the skills and careers developing around gaming and esports.
