‘Festival of Play’ returns to inspire young minds with creative computing and digital innovation

The Digital Schoolhouse Festival of Play has once again proven to be a beacon of inspiration for young minds, bringing together 225 students aged 11–14 and their teachers on Tuesday 17 June on Stranmillis University College campus for a day of creative computing, hands-on learning, and digital innovation. 

Hosted in association with Electronic Arts, the Centre for Digital Innovation in Technology, and Stranmillis University College, this year’s Festival of Play was a vibrant celebration of creativity, curiosity, and the growing impact of technology in education and computing careers. 

The Festival offered a rich programme of interactive workshops led by academic experts and industry leaders. Highlights included sessions from academic staff at Queen’s University Belfast’s IEEE and Media Lab, where students explored real-world applications of Artificial Intelligence, tackled complex problems through Virtual Reality, and discovered the principles behind innovative Game Design. 

The Royal Academy of Engineering engaged students with interactive challenges around computational thinking and coding, sparking interest in how engineering and tech intersect in everyday life. Meanwhile, the AMMA Centre and INTO Film offered a captivating behind-the-scenes look at the storytelling, art, and audio-visual magic that powers the game design industry. 

Speaking about the event, Dr Irene Bell, Head of STEM at Stranmillis University College said, “The Festival of Play is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to meet and hear how computer science academics are advancing research into many areas of our lives. One pupil who attended the AI workshop recounted how he initially didn’t think that a career in computer science was for him until he heard about the research work of the presenters in using AI into cancer research. The Festival of Play conference brings the importance and relevance of computer science to life in our young people and sparks ideas and curiosity in their minds.” 

“Festival of Play is more than just games or coding,” said a spokesperson from Digital Schoolhouse. “It’s about showing young people that technology is a tool for creativity, collaboration, and shaping the future—and that there’s a place for everyone in this exciting world.”

In addition to inspiring students, the event also delivered valuable professional development for teachers, equipping them with new tools, ideas, and confidence to bring creative computing into the classroom. Through immersive experiences like the Festival of Play, pupils gain early exposure to potential career paths in computing, digital media, game development, artificial intelligence, and beyond. 

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the success of this year’s Festival reinforces the importance of initiatives that blend education, creativity, and technology to prepare the next generation for the future.