Information re Gaming & Esports related courses

Date published: 02/05/2025

I would like to make a request under FOISA.

I require information regarding the number of learners participating in various different Gaming and esports related courses, over years, as well as their grade levels.

In particular, I require, ideally in a csv format, information on the following courses (with course codes):

Higher National - Computer Games Development (HNC) - SCQF Level: 7, 8 --HNC - Group award code: GM09 15 - Computer Games Development (HND) - SCQF Level: 7, 8 --HND - Group award code: GM0A 16 National Qualification Group Awards - Computer Games Development (NPA) - SCQF Level: 4, 5, 6 -- SCQF level 4 - Group Award Code: GP02 44 -- SCQF level 5 - Group Award Code: GP03 45 -- SCQF level 6 - Group Award Code: GP04 46 -Computer Games Development (NC) - SCQF Level: 5, 6 --SCQF level 5 - Group Award code: GP0L 45 --SCQF level 6 - Group Award code: GP0M 46 National Qualification Group Awards -Esports (NPA) -SCQF Level: 4, 5, 6 --SCQF level: 4 - Group award code: GV1H 44 --SCQF level: 5 - Group award code: GV1H 45 --SCQF level: 6 - Group award code: GV1H 46 I would like to know the number of learners who achieved a qualification in these courses, split by year, for every year since each relevant course has existed. If possible, I would like to know the numbers split by educational institution (college, etc). And if that information is not available, or just in addition to this information, I would simply like to know the number of educational institutions offering each course for every given year (and a list of the institutions, by name, for each year). If available, I would like to know the grades given to students in all of these courses, by tally of each grade (both pass/fails and any number or letter grades), again split by year. Also if there is data regarding the grades achieved by each institution offering relevant courses on any given year, then I would like that data too. If there is any information regarding the future progression of students undertaking any of these courses (progression to other courses in the same area, department, institution, or employment), I would like any of this data, excluding relevant personal private information. If there is any broader demographic information about the students taking the listed courses, and if this is available to me, not including specific individuals? private and personal information, I would like this information. In particular, I am interested in identifying students who are taking the courses at high-school, at a college while being in high-school, or simply taking it through a college. That said, any other demographic information that can be made available to me, I am requesting in addition to the specific above data. I would like this data by year too, to be able to see any changes in demographic over time. If there has been any surveys/information from learners undertaking the courses, educators/related staff, and industry professionals, I would like all of the information available to me here. As said initially, if possible, can this information all be made available through csv file formats, such that data analysis can be performed on the data, and summary statistics can be made.

I would also like to add (or be redirected to) extra information on the number of learners undertaking the broader (not specific to games or esports) course-types and educational levels, at all institutes (both those institutes listed as offering any of the above courses, and other unrelated institutes). By year, I would like to know the number of each course/qualification type (HNC, HND, NC, NPA, etc) institutions are making available to their students, split by SCQF Level, and by institute. So if in 2018 a college is offering 50 NPA qualifications (15 at levels 4 and 5 and 20 at level 6) and only 30 HNDs, but in 2019, that same college is offering 40 NPA (25 at level 6, 10 at level 5, and 5 and level 4) qualifications and 35 HNDs, then I would like to be able to find that information. In addition, this data should start the year that the first of the listed games/esports related qualifications was made available by any institution (so if the first games-development course was made available in 2012, then this extra data should all begin in 2012). In addition, I would also like to know the number of learners achieving these different qualification types. Again, this should be split by SCQF level and institute, and ideally will also show a tally of grade levels achieved for all of these courses, such that the games-related courses can be compared against all courses broadly. This information should also be available, split by year, for the same year range as above. If there is information about institutions (if they are a high school or college or other institution?) then I would also like this descriptive categorical information about all institutions, including those not offering the listed games/esports related courses. This information should come with all available descriptive information (alongside the specified categorical information). This should ideally be in a CSV table. As stated, I would like all this extra information, both nationally for Scotland, and for every institution individually if possible. As above, this information should be available in a csv format for the same analysis purpose as above

Please find attached the information requested.

Section 17 of FOISA provides that where an authority does not hold information requested then it should notify the requester to that effect.

Please note that as vocational qualifications none of the qualifications on which you have requested information are graded. Also, we have no data on future progression of students undertaking these courses. We don’t routinely carry out candidate/centre surveys and have not undertaken any related to the questions that are the subject of your request. We do not know which centres offer a qualification, only those that enter for them.

Information sheet 1 (170 KB)

Information sheet 2 (10.05 MB)