People, especially the young ones, have always been keen to determine who is the best with the help of competition. And esports has not become an exception. It has significantly expanded the idea of student tournaments. This period can easily be called the dawn of student esports. Modern students can be seen playing online tournaments or LAN-championships under the banners of their alma mater.
Esports, often referred to as electronic or digital sports, are the process of playing competitive video games. In such disciplines, players fight both in team mode and solo. Esports can boast of many similarities with traditional sports but it also has a lot of features that can’t be found in football, baseball or athletics. If you ask ten random students, they will tell you that they regularly play Dota 2, CS2, Coin Master, Overwatch or any other esports game.
The Rise of Collegiate Esports
Just like professional esports, student esports includes a few familiar elements of digital sports that all Rainbow Six Siege or PUBG fans know well. University competitions can be regularly seen live streamed on Twitch or YouTube. They attract an audience that frequently like coin master free spin and rival traditional collegiate sports events.
If we analyze why student esports has begun to gain popularity in recent years, we can easily identify a number of reasons. Aside from the universities, esports has already become a part of culture that is highly covered by the mainstream media and discussed among various age groups. The level of interest the top Counter-Strike clashes attract can easily compete with traditional sports viewer counts.
Secondly, esports has become way more accessible than it used to be. Thus, esports disciplines are available both on not the most demanding computers, game consoles costing $500, and on mobile devices that increase productivity every year. This contrasts with traditional sports, which often require excellent physical fitness and equipment that sometimes cannot be placed in your living room.
Also, participating in esports teams at university can be a great springboard for getting into the esports industry. In the future, the presence of a top student team can provide the university with new sponsors, as well as much-needed media exposure, which has a positive effect on the influx of new students
Integration into Higher Education
With the popularization of esports in student circles, it was only a matter of time before it was integrated into higher education. For universities, the introduction of digital sports brings only advantages in the form of creating a progressive image, satisfying the desires of students, as well as the formation of a modern esports community at the student level.
Some universities are working hard to create and implement eSports programs in the educational process. They are much like classic sports teams in football, wrestling or baseball. Such programs allow talented students to express themselves, compete with other players from different universities, and also receive rewards in the form of scholarships, prize money, or various peripherals. Universities can also employ experienced esports players who decide to try themselves in the coaching field, providing mentoring support to budding talents.
Leading esports organizations, as a rule, have youth teams where they recruit promising players. Participation in student teams can be an excellent opportunity to attract the attention of famous gaming clubs, which potentially opens the door to big e-sports.
Facilities and Infrastructure
University esports is usually built around LAN tournaments and online championships. For the former, special gaming arenas or specialized halls with all gaming equipment are needed. The latter are cheaper to organize because they do not require such large investments. To conduct LAN events, universities provide gaming devices, be it computers, consoles and smartphones, premises, peripherals, equipment for broadcasting matches, etc. As a result, universities can create the atmosphere of major esports competitions within the walls of their educational institution.
In addition to tournaments as such, the university administration can set up special esports lounges, which are not aimed at holding competitions, but are designed to introduce students to competitive gaming and provide a sufficient level of comfort for relaxation after intense classes. Such locations should have the maximum level of inclusion to make esports at the university accessible to everyone.
Educational and Career Opportunities Provided by the Universities
It is not surprising that while living in the digital era, a young talent has an opportunity to apply for esports-like bachelor or master programs. So, for example, it is already possible to get an education in esports management, marketing and other variations of traditional professions with a focus on esports. Also relevant in the esports field will be various analytical specialties, as well as those related to the production of media content. Studying in one of these programs is aimed at providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills to realize themselves in the field of esports.
With the help of student tournaments and teams, aspiring esportsmen can realize themselves as players or team coaches. Participation in esports programs allows students to hone skills such as teamwork, communication, stress tolerance, and leadership, which are extremely important if you plan to succeed in competitive disciplines.
Successful students are regularly offered internships in various esports organizations, video game development studios and the IT industry in general. Such an internship can provide the first practical experience that potential industry employees can add to their resume and enrich their skills. In addition, you may find valuable connections that can help with employment or career advancement.
Conclusion
Summing up the results of this article, I would like to note that student esports has become a revolutionary, although quite logical, stage in the development of the esports industry and higher education. It perfectly highlights the passion of today's students and creates an opportunity for professional development in this field. Esports opens up a huge space for universities to collaborate with market representatives and integrate elements of competitive competitions, as well as training programs, into the educational process. Student esports is already becoming a part of leading universities and institutions around the world, and in the future this trend will only gain momentum.
