Esports in universities: how to promote skills that bring value to digital economy

Sam Collins

Co-CEO, Ukie

The popularity of esports in universities has benefits beyond the screen, and a report finds that the UK is home to the largest student esports community in Europe.

While the size of our collegiate esports community spells great things for the growing sector — which, in 2019, contributed £111.5 million to the UK economy — leaders in the education space should consider the valuable transferable skills that playing video games competitively brings to the workforce of tomorrow.

From university to esports industry

Ukie’s report, published in partnership with The Story Mob and supported with new data from YouGov, notes that university-led esports organisations offer structures for esports players to directly enter professional ranks. NUEL (National University Esports League) offers the chance to progress to the Europe-wide University Esports Masters while NSE (National Student Esports) delivers the Intel FutureGen programme, selecting 20 talented individuals among the student community and providing them with access to Q&As, workshops, mentors and industry events.

As degrees in esports and scholarships for athletes launch at universities across the country, some industry experts warn that only a finite number of esports jobs will be available to the large numbers of students emerging in the coming years. However, participation in competitive video games at a school and higher education level does not simply build a pipeline from the universities to the esports arenas.

But esports has a clear relationship with STEM subjects and skills highly prized in a digital economy.

Transferable skills in esports

The report finds that the University of Warwick’s team WASD (Warwick’s Awesome Speedruns and Demos) is the largest student-run charity speedrunning event in the UK, raising more than £6,000 for the charity SpecialEffect to date. This suggests that students are in the process of honing key skills such as strategic thinking, project management and public relations.

Ukie initiative ‘Digital Schoolhouse’ has long promoted the transferable skills of esports, with school-age participants in their annual tournaments reporting increased interest in computing, as well as better communication and team-building skills.

STEM learning in esports programmes

Some teachers also reported that cohorts of pupils who were usually uninterested in extracurricular activities were engaged and encouraged by the programme. The benefits of extracurricular activities are well-documented, but esports has a clear relationship with STEM subjects and skills highly prized in a digital economy — with approximately 70% of NSE participants enrolled on a STEM course.

Evidence from the MIT Press suggests the right kind of esports programme can encourage skills such as understanding of scientific methodology, use of data and evidence and technological proficiency.