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Erasmus+ youth exchange

E-sports – a waste of time or the industry of the future?

An international youth exchange that looked beyond stereotypes to explore gaming culture, teamwork, wellbeing and opportunities in e-sports.

ProgrammeErasmus+ youth exchange PeriodLjubljana RoleHosted by gamingHOUSE
Gamers taking part in a small LAN party, used as an illustrative e-sports image
Illustrative photo: Sanza29 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Illustrative image; not a photograph from the gamingHOUSE exchange.

This international youth exchange invited participants to look critically at one of the central questions surrounding competitive gaming: is e-sports simply wasted screen time, or a fast-growing cultural and professional field?

Hosted in Ljubljana by gamingHOUSE, the project explored the skills developed through organised play—communication, teamwork, strategic thinking, digital confidence and creativity—alongside the responsibilities that come with healthy participation. Discussions also addressed stereotypes, balance, online behaviour and the many roles around e-sports, from players and coaches to event production, media and technology.

The exchange used a shared interest in gaming as a starting point for international peer learning. It showed how play can open conversations, connect young people across cultures and create an accessible route into broader questions about digital citizenship and future careers.