From Brussels to Patras: ENHANCE Project Sets the Stage for a More Inclusive Future in Esports
Brussels, June 2025
After a strong kickoff in January and a dynamic training in May, the ENHANCE - The Social Side of Esports project is building serious momentum across Europe. Co-funded by the European Union through Erasmus+ (G.A. No: 101184295), ENHANCE brings together universities, NGOs, and esports professionals to tackle a timely issue: toxic behaviors in online gaming and how to foster positive, inclusive communities in esports.
🏁 Kick-Off in Brussels
The project officially launched at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) with a two-day meeting on January 14-15, 2025. Partners aligned on goals, developed the blueprint for the Self-Assessment Tool, and defined roles across five key work packages:
- 🗂️ Project Management
- 🔍 Assessing
- 📢 Awareness
- 🎯 Achieving
- 📈 Impact & Dissemination
🧠 Training Session in Patras
From May 27-29, 2025, University of Patras (UPATRAS) hosted a high-impact training focused on data collection, ethics, and the pilot phase of the Self-Assessment Tool with grassroots players.
The event featured:
- ✅ Expert validation of the tool
- 🔐 GDPR-compliant data handling
- 👥 Training local assessors
- 📣 Planning outreach and dissemination strategies
“This training session was more than a technical workshop—it marked the operational launch of ENHANCE’s core tools, and showed how transdisciplinary cooperation can produce practical instruments to shape the future of esports.”
— Dimitra Papadimitriou, Local Coordinator at UPATRAS
📌 What’s Next?
With the pilot successfully completed, ENHANCE will now scale the Self-Assessment Tool across participating countries. The next steps include:
- 🎓 Launch of an eLearning platform and MOOC
- 📖 Publication of a Handbook on Toxicity and Inclusion in Esports
- 🌍 Ongoing engagement with young players and local communities
The project will conclude with an international conference in 2026, bringing together policy makers, grassroots leaders, and esports experts to discuss the social future of esports.
↓ Resources
📬 Get in Touch
For more information, updates, and collaboration opportunities, feel free to reach out:
Marc Sarens - VUB
marc.sarens@vub.be ✉
Dimitra Papadimitriou - University of Patras
dpapad@upatras.gr ✉