Q&A with HP Gaming Garage

• Can you tell us a little bit about HP Gaming Garage and its mission in the education sector?

HP Gaming Garage is a free of charge Professional Certificate program that allows learners to acquire Esports Management and Game Development skills through 4 courses comprising 82 modules. We want to democratise access to future skills and prepare students for jobs in the ICT, Media and Gaming sectors.

• What initiatives or innovations is HP Gaming Garage currently working on to support game-based learning in education?

HP Gaming Garage has just released its 4^th course - Generative AI in Game Development. It lets students acquire and understand AI skills but through the Gaming door as that allows more immediate affinity and quicker adoption.

• What would you say is the most unique aspect of your products or services that sets HP Gaming Garage apart in the market?

HP Gaming Garage courses have been curated by university professors who are deep subject matter experts. This has allowed us to create very engaging and rich curriculum, perhaps the most extensive free of charge and credible self-paced content on Gaming available today.

• HP Gaming Garage is the Founding Sponsor of Gaming@GESS. How does this partnership align with your goals for advancing gamification and esports in education?

Very much like music, Gaming is now a universal language and is not bound by curricula or geo restrictions. A very high percentage of schools in GCC are exploring ways of bringing Gaming into their frameworks. As HP we have set up Gaming labs for both K12 and HiEd institutions across UAE, Saudi and Oman. Our gaming and esports courses have been adopted by learners in all the GCC countries and in Saudi Arabia we have received micro-degree credential status by the MICT and NeLC. With GESS’s strong focus in the Middle East it aligns well with our plans for the region.

• What are the hindrances preventing wider adoption of Gaming and Esports in educational institutes, and any suggestions on how to overcome them? 

Parental and sometimes even educators’ negative perception of gaming can be an early obstacle but one that can be overcome with factual information and evidence. As with any technology adoption – a balanced approach, implementation of necessary safety guardrails, and a healthy dose of pragmatism and adaptability – are essential tools.

• What are the key benefits for both schools and educators when incorporating HP Gaming Garage solutions into their learning environments?

With the inclusion of Esports into the Olympics and the region set to host the Esports Olympics for the next 12 years, there has been a sharp increase in interest in Esports and Gaming. And with both UAE and Saudi Arabia articulating clear national visions on growing Game Development and Esports within the respective countries, it has further bolstered the focus on the sector.

Many educational institutions now see this an alternative and more effective way of also creating future skills on programming and design which is allowing for adoption within curricula and/or ECAs. And government and intergovernmental agencies are also finding this an effective way of scaling skills at pace.

HP is partnering various governments and intergovernmental organizations to incorporate HP Gaming Garage into their curriculum and courses. Some examples include being part of the Nigeria Ministry of Digital Economy’s 3MTT program or the UNDP program on digital skills.

• Where do you see the future of game-based learning in education, and how does HP Gaming Garage aim to shape this future?

Game based learning or gamification of pedagogy is different than gaming and game development. Teachers in general are more favorable to ‘learning gamification’ than ‘learning through gaming’. Many pedagogical software today incorporate game based learning, including HP’s Classeasy LMS that motivates and rewards student effort on the platform, leading to better learning outcomes in the long run.

• Are there any plans for expanding HP Gaming Garage’s reach into new markets or regions?

HP Gaming Garage courses are already being taken by learners in 187 countries in less than a year of launch. We have also made the courses available in 12 languages and will be looking to add more languages in the coming year.

• What can visitors expect to take away from your presence at GESS Dubai 2024, and how can they experience HP Gaming Garage’s products firsthand?

Visitors can visit our stand to gain in-depth understanding of the courses or attend the panel sessions we are participating in to deepen their understanding of the rapidly developing field of Esports and Game Development. Our courses are available for free and hosted on edX - anyone can enrol on https://www.edx.org/school/hp and experience the courses firsthand.