Electronic sports (eSports), often known as competitive video gaming, have rapidly gained popularity in recent years. The worldwide eSports market has already surpassed $1 billion, and according to various recent pieces of research, it is predicted to exceed $9 billion in 2028. It should not come as a surprise that educational institutions are interested in this trend given that over 60% of eSports enthusiasts are between the ages of 13 and 26 and so fall within the demographic of the typical secondary and post-secondary student.
It is a perfect moment to join in on the action because the academic eSports business is considerably more recent than the overall eSports market. Esports in education are expanding quickly and offer a variety of opportunities for IT companies looking to target the education industry. Since the need for academic eSports goods and services is growing and the market as a whole is still evolving, we believe that now is the perfect opportunity to give you information that will enable you to enter this quickly expanding sector.
We will divide this essay into sections relating to higher schooling and K-12 (a succinct designation for the publicly funded school grades before college in North America and some parts of the Western world) because there are significant disparities in how they tackle eSports.
We will start with higher education. But before that…
Esports for Education
Esports has been embraced as a fun, modern supplement to the curriculum in UK schools, colleges, and sixth forms with the introduction of the refreshed Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) in 2020 as the educational system seeks to future-proof expanding industry sectors.
A number of educational institutions had already started offering degree programs with an emphasis on eSports, and as a consequence of the BTEC’s popularity, an increasing number of schools are now providing eSports courses for higher education.
Education has adopted the initiative to focus on creating a future crop of applicants who will acquire the abilities and expertise needed for a career within the eSports industry, which is presently valued more than the movie business in the UK, in a sector that is growing exponentially. A variety of transferrable skills, including business and enterprise, broadcasting, coaching, analytics, and organizing events that correspond with well-being and a reasonable work-life balance, are required to prepare a workforce that is ready for the industry.
Higher Education
Universities are now offering substantial eSports programs, and this number is rising. In fact, varsity eSports teams are present at over 270 colleges as of December 2022, and numerous universities have invested millions of dollars in eSports venues. Universities are vying for the brand awareness and prospective commercialization opportunities that come with fielding a highly accomplished eSports team. Universities are increasingly seeing good esports programs as useful recruitment tools.
Esports’ expansion in higher education presents a wealth of potential for IT vendors. Universities that invest in eSports teams, for instance, are likely to seek services and goods that enable content streaming and provide eSports teams with sophisticated gear. Universities may also be interested in services that help manage events for competitions (either locally through the school’s local area network or distantly via the Internet), advertise, market, and sell merchandise for their eSports teams, track performance data, and data analytics to better understand how they can enhance their eSports teams, and provide IT infrastructure for esports venues. Suppliers in the gaming business may have opportunities in countries where betting on sports is permitted, which is something operators by the link have already recognized.
Naturally, some universities, especially in the USA, have had more success than others with their eSports initiatives, and institutions with broader, better-performing eSports courses also tend to spend more money on the sector. One of the most prominent eSports universities is the University of California-Irvine, which also had one of the earliest public eSports programs. Beyond merely its eSports squad, it also has other eSports activities. UC Irvine has made investments in eSports informatics, a yearly eSports conference, along with an arena. Miami University, which fielded the first varsity Division 1 esports team, Georgia State University, and Boise State University are a few other famous eSports universities.
The popularity of eSports has even prompted several universities to give scholarships to talented eSports competitors. For instance, universities offered more than $16 million in scholarships in 2020 to entice elite eSports talent, and as of December 2022, 130 universities offer eSports scholarships. This enthusiasm for eSports higher education and the possibility of receiving scholarships have encouraged K-12 institutions to fund their own eSports initiatives.
K-12 Education
It is critical to understand that administrators at K-12 schools have very different eSports-related goals than those in higher education when pitching eSports IT technologies to K-12 schools. If you emphasize the secondary advantages of having an eSports team in K-12, such as eSports’ capacity to raise student involvement, make students more intrigued in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, and enhance students’ collaborative and social skills, those making decisions will be far more open to your eSports products. In reality, because eSports are played in a team-based environment, they offer many of the same advantages as traditional sports.
Esports also make it easier to participate in competitive team-building activities at schools. Students who may be unable to join traditional school sports teams, such as individuals who use wheelchairs, are likely to find it much simpler to join eSports teams, giving them access to many of the same advantages their peers on conventional sports teams have enjoyed for decades. Additionally, K-12 institutions will be eager to make the best use of their current hardware. Many competitive video games, including Dota 2 and League of Legends, may be played on desktop computers found in a standard K-12 school computer lab and do not require expensive computer gear.
It is undoubtedly worth your effort to emphasize how those gadgets can be used beyond simply eSports if you want to sell more expensive products. For example, a powerful computer that can handle graphically demanding games at elevated frame rates is also likely to be better equipped to handle coursework in the fields of computer science, engineering, robotics, and related subjects. You will probably gain far more traction with your marketing of gaming machines if you highlight their benefits for STEM education in addition to gaming than if you only concentrate on eSports.
K-12 eSports are primarily decentralized in nature. Vendors and resellers are likely to have more success selling to individual schools or school districts rather than leagues because state-specific esports leagues, like the Illinois High School Esports Association and the Michigan High School Esports League, are typically more popular than large national leagues.
The North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), a nonprofit striving to promote students’ interest in STEAM, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities through eSports, and the High School Esports League (HSEL), the largest national K-12 eSports league with over 3,000 member schools, are a few notable eSports organizations with national reach despite this. the U.S. Department of State, Tallo, and Hewlett-Packard are just a few of the business and governmental organizations that NASEF already works with.
According to a recent projection from FutureSource Consulting, the overall supply of esports PCs by schools is expected to expand at a rate of above 15% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2027. Given this development, it is not unlikely that school officials may one day be interested in eSports for eSports’ sake, just way they are now in traditional sports.
Why Universities and Colleges Should Invest in eSports Education
Remember that eSports is more than simply competitive gaming! Much more is involved. The transferable abilities gained from participating in and learning about eSports go far beyond the obvious hand-eye coordination and motor skills. Esports education is essential for fostering diverse thought processes, strategic deliberation, rapid thinking, decision-making, communication, teamwork, creativity, entrepreneurship, technology literacy, social inclusion, as well as self-assurance and self-esteem.
The relationship between playing eSports and fostering interest in STEM fields is well established. Esports is a rapidly increasing industry that encourages young talent and equips your pupils with 21st-century skills for a growing market. Far from being the only employees in the sector, professional athletes who are celebrities make up barely one percent of the workforce. The gaming industry needs, among other professionals, IT professionals, content authors, analysts, coaches, and lawyers. It also needs advertisers, game makers, expert instructors, trainers, event managers, sound engineers, and referees. Experts who cross so many disciplines, including technology, sports, and entertainment, have the possibility of helping create skills that will help students in a wide variety of vocations.
So, why universities and colleges should invest in education related to eSports? Because of:
- a significant new source of funding for universities,
- an outstanding lure for freshmen visiting the school,
- bringing actual credibility and relevance to universities,
- the ability to offer a variety of new eSports degrees,
- a chance to compete internationally with other teams,
- having eSports venues that provide social hubs for students,
- usability of eSports to promote universities,
- usability of eSports to help students strive.
Benefits of Esports
Collaboration in a Team
Working with others necessitates the blending of several abilities, including respect, active listening, communication, and conflict management. As you work as a team to accomplish a goal, whether as the team leader or simply following directions for a successful conclusion, these can be cultivated in eSports. It creates a truly egalitarian activity for students by leveling the playing field and making participation and achievement available to a much larger audience than in traditional sports.
Time Management
For students to continue to be eligible for eSports events, there are academic standards they must satisfy. Due to this, they are compelled to manage their time well, much like a traditional student-athlete would.
Problem-Solving
Students who play eSports must set objectives and judge the competition. Students develop strategies and game plans as a team in responding directly to their opponents. the chance to exercise resilience and critical and analytical thinking.
Social Skills
Esports teaches young people social skills including teamwork, communication, and general social interaction—all of which are essential in the workplace.
Revenue
Esports can be a very lucrative source of additional income for colleges through sponsorships and donations. The additional funds can then be used to offer scholarships and other programs and high-quality resources for students, improving their chances of success.
Community
Esports being an extracurricular endeavor enables schools to engage kids who might not otherwise feel connected to the school. All students may interact in a joyful, less stressful setting thanks to eSports, which can act as a sort of common room. They are more inclined to be engaged in class, graduate, and continue their education if they feel an integral member of the community.
Career in Esports
For individuals who wish to work in close proximity to the action, the eSports sector has many job opportunities. You already got this. How to, however, get a job in eSports?
One is more likely to succeed in eSports if they can show a greater level of commitment. A specialist in law, finance, sales, media production, video editing, etc. with love and expertise for the sector will be able to apply for positions in eSports today. These are skills or qualifications that can be applicable to the eSports industry. Years of industry experience are uncommon in such a young field, thus, employers will look for candidates with transferrable abilities.
Now, studying gaming and eSports in high school, university, and college is another way to start a career in eSports. Since many educational institutions now recognize gaming as an official sport, you can even apply for an eSports stipend or get discovered as the next big pro gamer whilst you are still in high school or college. Esports degrees, as well as degrees with built-in esports specializations and placements, are being offered by universities all around the world.
There are many options today to build an eSports career, whether you already have experience or are just getting started.
Final Thoughts
There are several chances for those that provide network services, hardware, data analytics tools, marketing services, and other things as a result of the rapidly expanding eSports sector in education. However, to enter this market, one must comprehend the objectives of end users for their eSports initiatives. Institutions of higher learning and K–12 education, for example, have fundamentally distinct eSports motives and offer opportunities for various goods.
You should be able to enter this new market and gain a footing in a developing industry that will only get increasingly competitive as the years go on by keeping the end user’s motivations in mind whether you run an educational institution or want to enter the eSports industry.
