Rams Singh
Senior Lecturer in Esports, University of Chichester
Former champion gamers are transferring their computer console skills into lecture halls to help younger enthusiasts turn their passion into a career, not just as competitors but in areas supporting the genre.
The hope of those running three-year university degree courses in the burgeoning esports arena is to break down stigmas and stereotypes surrounding gaming.
Skills taught in a university esports course
The esports course at the University of Chichester covers all aspects of electronic video gaming, harnessing the 20+ years of experience Rams Singh has as a player, manager and coach. Now entering its fifth year, the esports course includes production, esports events management and modules on marketing, branding, running a business and tactical play.
“A further aspect that is highly important is sports sciences — mentality, physicality, nutrition and psychology,” says Singh, who joined Team Dignitas as a player in 2006 and in Trackmania was one of the first to represent the UK in the Electronics Sports World Cup in 2006.
My students do more than sit behind a computer.
Rewarding career opportunities in esports
As a senior lecturer on the course, Singh points to the career opportunities esports offers. “It opens up the world to young gamers to help them understand aspects of what content creators do,” he explains. “Careers are vast, not only as a pro gamer but team leader, event organiser and coach; with marketing and PR opportunities — and it allows you to travel. The skills from the course are very transferrable.” The course is based within the university’s £35 million tech park with high-end PCs where tutors observe students as they play and offer firsthand coaching.
Promoting social balance
The facilities also include social spaces where esports students can meet other like-minded students. Singh underlines a life–gaming balance. Keen to break down stigmas associated with gaming, he emphasises that, in the digital age, there are numerous jobs where people spend a lot of time on-screen. “My students do more than sit behind a computer,” he adds. They do fitness, socialise and eat healthy — and we offer that balance on the course.”