Staffordshire University are the first UK-based University
to introduce an esports degree. Which came as a shock to me however after
researching the esports industry it should come as no surprise. Esports is a
big business, with the global economy forecast by analysts to reach £685m
by the end of the year. So I wanted to delve a little deeper as to what the
course offered.
The course page focuses on the business of esports as well
as event management, creating business plans to develop teams, creating online
communities and promoting events through digital marketing. Which sounds like a
business degree specialised for the esports. However in 2017 the Intel Extreme
Masters esports event held in Katowice Poland amassed 173,000 fans to the
stadium and surrounding festival. As well as having 46 million viewers online.
No wonder there is demand for more people working in the esports industry.
Some of the content offered in the course involves studying
esports cultures, streaming techniques, business of competitive gaming and
organising esports events. Students will also have to study digital marketing
and take Google Garage Exams as part of the course.
The university's new degree course is in part a response to
a white paper on driving esports events in the UK. Dr Bobbie Fletcher,
head of games and visual effects at Staffordshire University says that plans
for the UK to become an esports hub are viable and can bring huge job creation.
The University has been in contact with streaming service Twitch and has stated
“they gave us the knowledge we needed to move down a more academic route.”
Personally I find this a really interesting move on behalf
of the University and the esports industry as a whole. An industry I know
limited amounts about. However I saw a good quote online that business is
business. Esports is the same as any other line of business so why shouldn’t
there be a degree specialised in it? Staffordshire have said that the course
already has 100 people signed up with entry requirements for A Level at BBC.
Many have also commented on the news saying that 10 years ago not many people
had a computer degree but now everyone has one.
To conclude this can only be good news for the gaming
industry as a whole. Gaming companies can further profit and create more jobs
whilst esports continues to grow. I will be interested to see how the course
grows and if it remains popular. However I have a feeling that in 10 years’
time we could be laughing at the thought of not having an esports degree.
Follow @EdwardMuldrew
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