The partnership will embed NASEF’s leading scholastic approach to help IESF’s 104 Member Federations connect learning and esports

ATLANTA, USA (July 1, 2021) – The International Esports Federation (IESF) today announced that it is partnering with the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) and appointing Gerald Solomon, NASEF’s executive director, as Chair of the World Esports Education Commission. IESF will now exclusively utilize NASEF’s curriculum and programs to enable educators around the world to leverage esports as a tool for education and career preparation.

The esports industry is booming worldwide, with revenue predicted to grow 14.5% in 2021 from the previous year^[1]. With that level of growth, career opportunities abound. Meanwhile, young people worldwide have a significant and growing interest in esports and are eager to develop related skills, not only in video gameplay but also in the ecosystem that surrounds the gamers.

As a result of the partnership, IESF will utilize NASEF’s Department of Education-approved standards-based high school, Career Tech and middle school curriculum to develop and implement a global functional scholastic esports system. NASEF will provide all IESF member national federations with program guidelines and professional development and training for members’ implementation. To lead this global effort, Gerald Solomon, founder and executive director of NASEF, has been appointed head of the IESF World Esports Education Commission and charged with developing and scaling this scholastic approach to esports.

“Through this partnership, IESF will be providing significant additional education resources to our 104 member nations,” said Vlad Marinescu, president of IESF. “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; this alliance will allow us to leverage that expertise for the benefit of IESF students and athletes worldwide.”

“Independent research demonstrates NASEF’s success in leveraging esports for meaningful education. 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 programs to positively impact their students and position them to thrive and acquire the skills needed for high-demand careers,” said Gerald Solomon, founder and executive director of NASEF.

About International Esports Federation (IESF)

IESF is the unifying body for World Esports. Founded in 2008 by nine member nations, IESF is currently composed of 104 member nations across five continents. IESF brings together all esports stakeholders to achieve a united ecosystem for the development of sustainable and responsible gaming worldwide. The IESF Esports World Championship is the biggest multi-sport spectacle of esports in the world. IESF also organizes the annual Global Esports Executive Summit in order to support the highest standard of esports governance worldwide.

About NASEF

The North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF) is on a mission to provide opportunities for all students to use esports as a platform to acquire STEM/STEAM-based skills and critical communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in work and in life. NASEF operates under the umbrella of the World Wide Scholastic Esports Foundation (WWSEF). Find NASEF at NASEF.org and on Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Learn more at the NASEF website or the IESF website.

^[1] Newzoo’s Global Esports & Live Streaming Market Report, 2021

Media Contacts:

Claire LaBeaux [email protected]

Boban Totovski [email protected]