APRU Esports MetaGame Conference

The Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) MetaGame Conference seeks to incorporate the full ecosystem of Esports, from gamers to industry partners, to government to students – we are seeking to expand the purview of Esports. The inaugural MetaGame Conference will focus on Hong Kong as an emerging Esports leader in the region and examines the ways that an international network of Esports leaders can further its scope within universities from Esports as digital entertainment to developing career pathways for students in the Esports ecosystem. 

The APRU Esports Metagame Conference will take place within a broader convening titled the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum hosted at Cyberport in Hong Kong. The APRU Esports Metagame conference includes three components:

• Gaming – A competition be held that can be opened to local students along with invited teams from APRU’s UEII Consortium.

• Policy Discussions – Inviting both local and international Esports scholars with policy makers to discuss the evolution of Hong Kong Esports' policy landscape.

• Next Generation Learning – Inviting both local and international Esports scholars to discuss relevant learning topics of Esports, such as engineering, education, youth development, etc.

Join Esports industry leaders, student Esports leaders, and academic experts of APRU to shape the development of Esports ecosystem in the Asia Pacific Rim. Witness the top collegiate terms of APRU battle it out in the Borregos Invitational tournament. 

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Program

9:00 AM

Opening Keynote Speech

Mr Peter Yan, CEO, Cyberport Hong Kong

Dr Christopher Tremewan, Secretary General, APRU

9:10 AM

Special Announcement

Executive President and Rector, Prof David Garza,

Tecnológico de Monterrey

9:15 AM

Keynote Address

Moderator: Ms Etta Wong, Director USC Hong Kong, Office of Strategic and Global Initiatives, University of Southern California

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Speaker:

Prof Anthony Borquez, Assistant Professor, Clinical Entrepreneurship,
Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California

10:15 AM

Global Exchange: Emerging Esports Ecosystems

What role does Hong Kong Esports play in the regional and international Esports ecosystem? What are the ways that government, higher-education, and industry cultivate a thriving Esports ecosystem?

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Moderator: Mr Timothy Shen, Founder & CEO of Yes! E-Sports Asia Holdings Limited (“YEAH”)

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• Dr Anand Bhojan, Senior Lecturer, School of Computing, National University of Singapore

• Prof Peichi Chung, Associate Professor, Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

• Mr Sean Heng Shao Jie, Student eSports Representative, National University of Singapore

• Mr Terry Tsang, CEO and Founder of Madhead Games & HKUST Alumnus

11:15 AM

Promoting Equity in Esports, Without Creating Barriers

The allure of competitive sponsorship packages and massive fan bases draws in talented Esports athletes globally but unfortunately, these benefits are not enjoyed by all players. The oftentimes cruel disparities in the treatment of women and minority players regularly sparks debate among leaders in media and academia critical of the lack of female and minority players at the top levels. This panel offers strategies and policies for the ecosystem to consider, to create more inclusive and diverse culture for gamers worldwide.

Moderator: Mr Jim Huntley, Professor, USC Games Program, Faculty Advisor for USC Trojan Esports, University of Southern California

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• Prof Jon Festinger, Q.C., Peter A. Allard School of Law, The University of British Columbia

• Ms Cathy Ge, Student, Director of UCLA Esports, University of California, Los Angeles

• Ms Nessa Harrison, Student, VP External Relations of UBC Esports Association, The University of British Columbia

• Mr Joe Jacko, Esports Coach, University of Southern California

• Mr Liam Slack, Esports Manager, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

• Ms Ariana Yeo, Student, Vice President of the NTU Esports Society, Nanyang Technological University

12:30 PM

Closing