Patras, Greece - May 27-29, 2025
The University of Patras recently hosted an intensive three-day Training Session as part of the ENHANCE: The Social Side of eSports project. Co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport Programme (G.A. No: 101184295), this initiative aims to foster healthier, safer, and more inclusive environments in the world of online gaming.

The event brought together a dynamic mix of researchers, practitioners, and project partners from across Europe to collaborate on practical solutions to one of esports’ biggest challenges: toxic behavior.

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Why This Training Matters

With esports now a global phenomenon, social responsibility within gaming communities has become more important than ever. ENHANCE seeks to tackle this issue head-on by developing a comprehensive Self-Assessment Tool designed to identify and mitigate toxic behaviors in digital sport environments.

This session in Patras marked a crucial milestone in the project, laying the groundwork for real, measurable impact in online gaming culture.

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🗓 Highlights from the Three-Day Agenda

Representatives from partner institutions—including UPATRAS, VUB, SEA, FU, VITAMINA C, and LA HOYA—worked closely on several key areas:

• 🔍 Mapping and categorizing common toxic behaviors in esports
• 🛡️ Addressing ethical and legal considerations, including GDPR compliance
• 🛠️ Prototyping a Self-Assessment Tool for grassroots and professional use
• 📚 Conducting literature reviews on toxicity causes and effects
• 👥 Training assessors and planning outreach strategies for wider adoption

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🏛️ Setting & Collaboration

Held at the Business Administration Secretariat of the University of Patras, the session also offered time for networking and intercultural exchange. A social dinner rounded out the experience, encouraging informal dialogue and long-term cooperation among stakeholders.

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💡 A Project with Purpose

At its core, the ENHANCE project is about transformation:

Creating tools, knowledge, and frameworks to support more respectful, inclusive, and safe gaming environments for players of all ages.

By focusing on education, assessment, and collaboration, the initiative is paving the way for a new standard of social responsibility in digital sports.

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📸 Behind the Scenes

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📬 Want to Learn More?

For additional information about the project or collaboration opportunities, feel free to get in touch:

Dimitra Papadimitriou - University of Patras
dpapad@upatras.gr ✉

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