Santesih

Study Day

Towards more professionalized esports practices?

May 21 & 22, 2026

Call for oral communications – Esports conference cohosted by Montpellier University (Faculty of Sports Sciences, France) and Hanoi School of Business and Management, Vietnam National University (HSB-VNU, Vietnam).

Call for oral communication – conference on sustainable development of esports – PDF 553 KBDownload

Abstract

For the first joint conference organized between Montpellier University and HSB-VNU, we decided to dig into conditions of professionalization and sustainability of esports. In particular, the objective is to gather pieces of work from several different disciplines in order to explore the interests, the limitations and tensions that are connected to the professional structuration of esports. This conference therefore aims to provide a global and critical approach by questioning both the practices of esports stakeholders and the methods mobilized by scholars.

Proposal

Please send your proposals for papers (title, five keywords, and a 300-word abstract) as well as a short biography of the author(s) before March 30, 2026. Please find below an abstract of the conference topics:

Axis 1: Health, performance, and player inclusion

  1. Mental health and burnout prevention for professional esports players.
  2. Holistic support strategies (nutrition, ergonomics, psychology, and training).
  3. Gender inequality and inclusion dynamics within competitive spaces.
  4. Professional training and dual project for young esports players.
  5. Structuring of training environment and innovation in performance monitoring.

Axis 2: General structuring of the esports industry

  1. Esports institutionalization: stakes, resistance, and comparative models.
  2. Governance and integrity within esports competitions.
  3. Legal regulation and player contracts: current situation and outlook.
  4. Communication strategies during crises and image management within esports organizations.
  5. Relationships between public and private actors in developing the esports ecosystem.

Axis 3: Business models and sustainability

  1. Diversification of income streams: merchandising, ticketing, exclusive content, etc.
  2. Club funding: fundraising, subsidies, and public-private partnerships.
  3. Corporate social responsibilities within esports business models.
  4. Esports tourism and hybridization within other cultural industries (fashion, music, cinema).
  5. Towards sustainable financial autonomy: strategies and organizational best practices.

Each proposal must clearly define the research question, methodologies, framework, and results. Each presentation will be structured around the following format: 20 minutes of presentation and 10 minutes of questions. All proposals must be sent to the following email address: