INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS
MINECRAFT EDUCATION CHALLENGE
Open to UAE schools, students from Years 3-6, Grades 2-5, and Cycle 2 are invited to join a thrilling Minecraft-based competition that tests teamwork and strategy. With teams of 3, students are tasked to find hidden falcon eggs scattered around a futuristic Dubai-based Pirate Cove map and return them to their nests as fast as possible.
The top 4 teams will advance to the final stage where they'll be joined by a guest team from a school outside of the UAE. Watch these 5 teams battle for the championship trophy and win epic prizes during the live finals on 22 June at DEF 2023.
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BRAWLHALLA ESPORTS SCHOOLS CLASH
Gear up for an exciting Brawlhalla school competition! Open to students aged 11 and above from schools within Dubai, the Brawlhalla Esports Schools Clash is the ultimate test of skill. Each school must choose a Brawlhalla champion from their students to represent them in this tournament.
All school champions will be invited to compete live on stage at the GameExpo on 21 June, where only the best brawler will be crowned the supreme champion of Brawlhalla Esports Schools Clash and win amazing prizes.
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MICROSOFT MAKECODE COMPETITION
The Microsoft MakeCode Competition challenges all students, aged 11-15, to show off their ingenuity and coding prowess by designing arcade games based on any one of 4 sustainability themes: recycling, waste management, energy production, and food production. These young coders will have to use Microsoft's MakeCode Arcade platform to code their game to life and submit their work!
A panel of judges will handpick 5 games and invite their talented teams to an award ceremony at GameExpo on 21 June. Here they'll crown the best team as winners of the competition and commend all finalists. MakeCode specialists will be guiding students throughout the competition and hold weekly workshops to help them out.
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COSPLAY DRESS-UP DAY
DEF 2023 calls on all students and teachers to show their love for gaming by cosplaying as their favourite character in DEF Cosplay Dress-Up Day. On Friday, 9 June 2023, schools are encouraged to go wild with their costumes and post their pictures with character names on their school's social media platforms using the hashtag #defcosplay #cosplay @dxbesportsfest on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok and @DxbEsportsFest for Twitter.
The DEF team will choose the best and most creative costumes and award them exciting prizes, so make sure you tag your photos using the right handles and hashtags. Don't miss this chance to show your passion for gaming!
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DEF CAREER TALKS - LEVEL UP
To cultivate next-gen talents, industry professionals and leading experts will visit schools all over the UAE and talk about esports and gaming as viable career paths. This exciting educational programme is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the industry.
The speakers will engage in career talks with students aged 11 and above and advise them about the potential of the gaming industry. These talks will be 45-minute interactive sessions with explanations, anecdotes, and Q&As, which will prove to be a valuable learning experience for the students.
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SCHOOL TRIPS
All pre-registered schools and universities are invited to Expo City Dubai to attend DEF 2023 on 21 - 22 June, completely free of charge. These two days of education enlightenment will prove to be an exciting journey for countless students.
These school trips to DEF 2023 will give students the opportunity to explore the history of gaming, test out brand new game releases, support their peers on stage at the grand finals and meet their favourite gaming influencers through Play the Pro activities. They'll also get to listen to industry experts talk about their careers and learn more about gaming and esports, as well as explore the many game zones of GameExpo for thrilling gaming adventures
