Exploring the Intersection Between Careers and Education in Esports
Leading esports and gaming technological solutions developer ex corp. have today released their research report exploring the intersection between careers and education in esports titled ‘Esports Degrees Playing Field: What Prospective Students Want, Esports Sector Needs, and Academia Can(‘t) Provide’.
The 16-page report delves into various aspects of the relationship between education in esports and the current job market within the industry itself. It focuses on analyzing the supply and demand of degree offerings and job openings, highlighting the benefits, challenges, and necessary changes in this relationship.
To gather valuable insights, ex corp. commissioned a survey of 1000 16-19 year olds interested in esports from Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The survey, conducted by market research company OnePoll, revealed fascinating statistics. It found that 44% of respondents were likely to consider pursuing a degree in an esports-related field. Moreover, 55% believed that such a degree would enhance their chances of employment in the industry. The survey also highlighted the most popular occupations among the respondents, with health and wellness, entertainment and broadcasting, education, and players’ management being the top choices.
This research report not only presents compelling survey results but also includes insights from prominent industry voices. Alban Dechelotte, CEO at G2 Esports, Sam Cooke, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Esports Insider, Oleksii Kucherov, COO at Natus Vincere, and Khalilah El-Amin, Vice President of People & Culture at Team Liquid, provide their perspectives on the pros and cons of esports degrees, the nature of the esports industry, and the indispensable need for passion, experience, and specialization in this field.
The latter half of the report delves into the current expectations of the industry for prospective applicants. It explores how these expectations have evolved in light of the financial challenges faced during the recent ‘esports winter.’ The report emphasizes the growing demand for applicants who possess job-specific expertise combined with knowledge and experience in the esports domain. Additionally, it highlights the existing disparity between the number of students enrolled in esports degree programs and the number of vacancies available. This underscores the fact that esports is still a relatively young industry with an uncertain job market demand.
Timofey Sobolevskiy, Chief Communications Officer at ex corp., expressed his delight in releasing this report, emphasizing the significance of exploring the future of education in esports and the reciprocal relationship between education and the esports industry. He emphasized the need for employers and individuals entering higher education to grasp the value of esports degrees and be aware of the diverse options available. As Sobolevskiy stated, “There really isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for both sides of the coin.”
Alban Dechelotte, CEO at G2 Esports, also provided valuable advice for students aspiring to enter the esports sector. He suggested that pursuing the best degree in their area of expertise would be more beneficial than solely focusing on an esports degree. According to Dechelotte, becoming a world-class professional in one’s chosen field is key. His perspective highlights the nuanced considerations involved in forging a career in esports.