LO1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of esports governance styles across multiple ecosystems.
LO2. Critically analyse the impact of governing esports bodies and governmental legislation against various regions of the sector.
LO3. Synthesize recommendations of policy to provide solutions to prevalent integrity issues throughout esports.
LO4. Illustrate the ability to contextualise and apply lessons learned from traditional sports governance into a contemporary esports context.

Formative Assessment
Students will be provided with a selection of academic articles relating to sports governance and must provide a synopsis of their chosen article, relating it to the esports sector.

Assessment 1 – Presentation
Students will present a recommendation for a policy to improve the ecosystem of a chosen esports title based on researched weaknesses in current policies.
LO3

Assessment 2 – Report
Students will critically analyse how their chosen esports scene is governed, providing recommendations for policy implementation supported by case studies in relevant esports scenes and traditional sports. A Harvard referenced list of academic and non-academic sources will be required.
LO1, LO2, LO4

The module will focus on the examination of critical issues in traditional sports and esports governance through theoretical analysis, indicating wherever possible the potential for the use of theory to inform practice going forward in an emergent industry. Issues will include commodification, ethics and finance.

- Traditional Sports Governance
- Governance Principles
- Global Policy
- National Regulatory Frameworks
- International esports governance
- Government esports bodies (British Esports Association, KeSpa)
- Self-regulating esports bodies (WESA, ESIC)
- Integrity Issues
- Governance Ethics
- Governing investment

The governing bodies and regulatory authorities who lay down the laws in esports are many and varied, but who are they, and what do they really do? Identify areas of research to inform ourselves about traditional governance methods in sport to ensure stakeholders in professional esports are fully protected, and justify how approaches should be changed to appropriately cater for the unique needs surrounding esports. How is the government treating our sector, and what could they be doing more or less of to assist us in innovating and driving forward?

Students will be expected to engage in a variety of learning strategies, including but not limited to:
- Tutor led formal presentations
- Workshops and group-based tutorials
- Discussion/debate cantered learning
- Participation in group activities, including presentations and discussion panels
- Directed reading
- Self-directed/independent research

Chappelet, J-L. International Olympic Committee and the Olympic System: the governance of world sport, Routledge, 2008

Council, A.C.G., 2007. Corporate governance principles and recommendations.

Hassan, D.,Who Owns Football? Models of football governance and management in international sport, Routledge 2013

Hoye, R. and Cuskelly, G., 2007. Sport governance. Routledge.

Kelly, S.J., Derrington, S. and Star, S. (2021). Governance challenges in esports: a best practice framework for addressing integrity and wellbeing issues. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 14(1), pp.1–18. doi:10.1080/19406940.2021.1976812.

Kennedy, P. (2019). If You Build It, Will They Come?: eSports Regulation Challenges and International Investment Opportunities. Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, 19(1), p.54.

Tricker, B. and Tricker, R.I., 2015. Corporate governance: Principles, policies, and practices. Oxford University Press, USA.

Windholz, E. (2020). Governing Esports: Public Policy, Regulation and the Law. Monash University Faculty of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 3622662, 1(1).

Witkowski, E. (2022). Growing Pains in Esports Associationalism: Four Modes of National Esports Associational Development. Games and Culture, 1(1).

University Library
IT
Blackboard
Reading list
VLE learning support material to be provided for independent /self-directed learning.
Module handbooks
Open Textbook Library