{"id":3852,"date":"2022-04-14T18:13:23","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T18:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=3852"},"modified":"2025-03-27T17:23:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T21:23:21","slug":"wilmu-partners-with-futures-first-gaming-to-create-academic-pathways-for-esports-and-gaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2022\/04\/14\/wilmu-partners-with-futures-first-gaming-to-create-academic-pathways-for-esports-and-gaming\/","title":{"rendered":"WilmU Partners with Futures First Gaming to Create Academic Pathways for Esports and Gaming"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column3852_999ad0-54 dynamic-main-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>On April 11, Futures First Gaming (FFG) and WilmU announced the signing of an academic partnership agreement that is the first step toward developing degree and certificate pathways for students in the esports and gaming communities with the goal of providing them with STEM-based credentials for success in the booming industry.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image3852_0ad5cc-b4 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image3852_0ad5cc-b4\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Stephen-Sye_CEO_FFG-768x512-1.jpg\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-14458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Stephen-Sye_CEO_FFG-768x512-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Stephen-Sye_CEO_FFG-768x512-1-250x167.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Stephen-Sye_CEO_FFG-768x512-1-720x480.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption><em>Stephen Sye<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Stephen Sye, CEO of Futures First Gaming, is excited to partner with Wilmington University. \u201cOne of the most crucial priorities we identified from the outset of our company\u2019s launch was the need for educational credentials in our programming,\u201d he says. \u201cWe accomplished this by identifying a university partner who shared our vision to provide innovative STEM education to today\u2019s youth, and also shares our commitment to providing equitable opportunities to underrepresented groups and the industry\u2019s growth in this region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWilmington University is thrilled to partner with Futures First Gaming,\u201d says Lindsay Rice, senior director of Academic Partnerships at Wilmington University. \u201cOur gaming instructors are immersed in the industry, and WilmU\u2019s Game Design and Development program was the first undergraduate degree of its kind in Delaware. We\u2019re committed to expanding opportunities for more high school students to connect, learn, earn credit for what they\u2019ve learned, then explore all opportunities in the rapidly growing esports and gaming industries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FFG has a Workforce Development program, sponsored by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, that aligns with the new academic partnership agreement with Wilmington University. The second cohort of Workforce Development students will now have access to WilmU\u2019s staff of expert instructors, established curriculum, development techniques, and program content for college credit. They can garner valuable STEM skills and knowledge in programming, IT, cybersecurity, gain esports-specific business expertise, and graduate with information provided by industry professionals who are also seasoned university instructors.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image3852_49d658-a3.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image3852_49d658-a3 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:225px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image3852_49d658-a3.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image3852_49d658-a3 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image3852_49d658-a3 figure{max-width:225px;}.kb-image3852_49d658-a3 .image-is-svg, .kb-image3852_49d658-a3 .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image3852_49d658-a3 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image3852_49d658-a3\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"355\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Scott-Shaw_Headshot-1.png\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-14459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Scott-Shaw_Headshot-1.png 355w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Scott-Shaw_Headshot-1-175x250.png 175w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Scott-Shaw_Headshot-1-337x480.png 337w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><figcaption><em>Scott Shaw<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe agreement between WilmU and FFG leverages the capabilities of both to ensure there\u2019s academic rigor that benefits students with and without esports and game design credentials,\u201d says Scott Shaw, assistant professor and academic chair of WilmU\u2019s Game Design program. \u201cThere\u2019s so much more to it beyond programming and game design, and this agreement provides pathways to educational credit for skill-building along with opportunities to gain a wider perspective of the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFutures First Gaming facilitates pathways for youth who have an interest in esports and STEM to realize their true potential in order to change their fortunes and change the world,\u201d Sye says. \u201cOur partnership with Wilmington University delivers on our promise to develop the pipeline from K-12 to university and careers in esports and related industries. Through innovative partnerships like this, our brand tagline, \u2018Futures First Starts with Gaming,\u2019 is realized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this partnership, Delaware residents can expect to see more of FFG\u2019s signature esports events and educational programming hosted at WilmU\u2019s facilities across the state. To learn more about Wilmington University and its gaming programs, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/game-design-development\">www.wilmu.edu\/game-design-development<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/tag\/stem\/\">STEM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1872<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2022\/04\/14\/wilmu-partners-with-futures-first-gaming-to-create-academic-pathways-for-esports-and-gaming\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On April 11, Futures First Gaming (FFG) and WilmU announced the signing of an academic partnership agreement that is the first step toward developing degree&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3853,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,438],"tags":[13],"class_list":["post-3852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","category-partners","tag-stem"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"ACADEMIC NEWS"},{"value":438,"label":"PARTNERS"}],"post_tag":[{"value":13,"label":"STEM"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/FuturesFirst_04-22-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","slug":"academic-news","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":559,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":460,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":460,"category_description":"","cat_name":"ACADEMIC NEWS","category_nicename":"academic-news","category_parent":0},{"term_id":438,"name":"PARTNERS","slug":"partners","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":995,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":32,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":438,"category_count":32,"category_description":"","cat_name":"PARTNERS","category_nicename":"partners","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":13,"name":"STEM","slug":"stem","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":570,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3852"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17566,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3852\/revisions\/17566"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}