XPark Games at the 2025 IEEE Leadership Summit

Image: Nagham Saeed, IEEE UK & Ireland Chair

It was a privilege to take part in the 2025 IEEE UK & Ireland International Leadership Summit: London Track, joining a brilliant line-up of industry, research, and academic leaders shaping the future of engineering and technology.

We were invited as an industry representative to share the work XPark Games is doing to help young people explore digital and engineering career pathways through gamified virtual work experience. Speaking to a room of senior leaders about how the next generation discovers STEM careers - and what’s broken about traditional careers education - was both energising and a useful reality check on how far we still have to go.

The theme that ran through the day was the importance of collaboration between industry, academia, and education. The talks made clear that no single sector can prepare young people for the pace of change ahead. Engineering, AI, and research breakthroughs only become opportunities for the next generation when they’re translated into experiences that students can see themselves in. That’s the gap edtech tools like ours are designed to close: giving careers leaders and employer partners a scalable way to bring real-world digital careers into the classroom.

A few moments stood out. Talks on the future of AI in engineering reinforced our conviction that careers education needs to evolve alongside the technologies students will use. Conversations during the breaks with academics and employers reminded us how powerful it is when universities and industry build genuine pipelines together. And the energy in the room from early-career engineers and seasoned leaders alike was a strong reminder that the UK has a deep bench of STEM talent ready to support the next generation.

A huge congratulations to the IEEE UK & Ireland team for putting together such an impactful event. We left feeling grateful, energised, and excited about what’s ahead - and more determined than ever to make sure every young person, wherever they are, has access to engaging virtual work experience that brings STEM careers to life.

If you’re an industry leader, university, or careers programme interested in partnering with us, we’d love to hear from you.