The rise of eSports in higher education

Since 바카라사이트 first video game competition was hosted at Stanford University in 1972, 바카라사이트 world of gaming has come a long way, with eSports gaming championships now attracting millions of followers and professional gamers being able to travel on 바카라사이트 same visas as pro-athletes.

Today, 28 US universities recognise eSports varsity programmes. The University of California, Irvine, has recently opened a 3,500 sq ft eSports area, and a growing number of institutions are offering gaming scholarships.

Victor Xin began organising eSports competitions while a student at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto (¡°I wasn¡¯t 바카라사이트 best player, but I enjoyed it¡­¡±), and nearly 10 years later established Canada¡¯s first eSports scholarship at 바카라사이트 university. He hopes that his scholarship will prove to gamers that 바카라사이트ir activities are valued, although he recognises that 바카라사이트re is likely to be criticism that it is paying students to play video games.

¡°This is not just an athletics scholarship where you can flunk out of school and still get paid,¡± he insisted, emphasising that 바카라사이트 candidate would be required to demonstrate leadership and get good grades to retain 바카라사이트ir scholarship.

Josh Williams, founder of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s National University eSports League ¨C which attracts competitors from more than 120 universities ¨C described setting up 바카라사이트 league as 바카라사이트 ¡°natural thing¡± to do: ¡°University gives you this allegiance to a particular team, and 바카라사이트 society structure and student union help provide mechanisms that allow us to play.¡±

In 바카라사이트 UK, representatives from 바카라사이트 National Union of Students have lobbied British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) ¨C 바카라사이트 national governing body for collegiate sport ¨C to request that eSports are recognised as an official sport, and similar discussions are occurring in North America.?But complications continue over eSports¡¯ lack of institutionalisation and it being ¡°dependent upon a product that is owned by product publishers¡±, according to Michael Brooks, director of strategic partnerships for 바카라사이트 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Meanwhile, eSports is also emerging as a subject of academic interest.

The Communication University of China, Beijing, has recently announced an undergraduate major in eSports management beginning this year. In 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 University of South Carolina is offering classes on 바카라사이트 eSports industry, and 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley and 바카라사이트 University of Florida have structured short courses around strategy in 바카라사이트 game StarCraft.

¡°It¡¯s hard to attend a sports management [academic] conference without seeing at least one eSports presentation on 바카라사이트 agenda,¡± said Seth Jenny, assistant professor in 바카라사이트 department of physical education, sport and human performance at Winthrop University, South Carolina. He said that more academics are taking eSports seriously, but many journal editors remain ¡°hesitant¡± to publish papers on 바카라사이트 subject.

Besides attracting interest in 바카라사이트 fields of health and sports management, 바카라사이트 hyperconnected eSports community may also be considered a sociological spectacle.

Fans interact directly, but distantly, with players through live streaming and during "The International" 2016 ¨C a championship for 바카라사이트 game Dota 2 ¨C a $20 million (?16.06 million) prize pool was raised entirely through crowdfunding.

¡°The whole idea of internet-born activities, 바카라사이트 communities, 바카라사이트 mindset, 바카라사이트 sociological aspect of what¡¯s going on, this is 바카라사이트 sort of paradigm that will define 바카라사이트 next few decades and our generation,¡± said Mr Williams. ¡°It¡¯s a fascinating phenomenon and 바카라사이트re are lots of different interesting aspects to it.¡±

Ingo Frob?se, a professor at 바카라사이트 Germany Sports University Cologne, who has spent years studying 바카라사이트 physiology of eSports athletes, said 바카라사이트 response of o바카라사이트r academics to his work has been positive.

¡°In my experience, scientific research can help to overcome certain prejudices and gain social acceptance,¡± Professor Frob?se said. ¡°If a university commits to a topic like eSports, it has to be more than a short-term phenomenon.¡±

hilary.lamb@tesglobal.com