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Esports degree is more than gaming, says university

Alice Cunningham & Wayne Bavin
BBC News, Suffolk
University of Suffolk A CGI image of what a room within the Esports university building will look like. It shows computers on desks with chairs. University of Suffolk
The University of Suffolk will offer its Esports degree to students starting in September

A new Esports degree will enable students to learn new skills "through the medium of video games", its course leader said.

The University of Suffolk in Ipswich announced last year it would launch a "cutting edge" degree in competitive video gaming.

A £1.6m renovation is currently underway to transform a vacant building in Long Street into a home for the course.

Charlie Smith, course leader for the BA (Hons) course, said the first students would be joining in September.

Isaac Chennery/BBC Charlie Smith smiles at the camera. He has dark hair and wears round glasses with a grey turtleneck jumper. The University of Suffolk campus can be seen behind him.Isaac Chennery/BBC
Course leader Charlie Smith said students will learn skills that they can use within other industries

"One of the things we don't teach you to do is play video games because they're already doing that in their free time, they're already far better than we are," Mr Smith explained.

"What degrees like this do is teach you transferable and technical skills through the passion of video gaming.

"On a course like this with its live streaming and business management and marketing skills, these are skills we can take to other industries such as traditional events, traditional broadcasting - sport as well.

"We can take that knowledge and experience, but we're learning that through the medium of video games."

University of Suffolk A CGI image of one of the rooms within the Esports building. PCs can be seen on desks with gaming chairs behind the desks. The University of Suffolk logo glows brightly from a far away wall. University of Suffolk
The building will include more than 40 gaming PCs for students to make use of

Mr Smith said the gaming industry was "absolutely massive" and was only expected to grow.

"The gaming industry itself is worth more than film, TV, media combined," he added.

"So universities need to be responsive to the changing market both nationally and internationally."

University of Suffolk A yellow brick building can be seen with numerous windows across two storeys as well as a large entrance door. University of Suffolk
The university is currently renovating an empty building on Long Street

Mr Smith, who has worked in the industry for 10 years, explained the building had been on the campus for "quite a few decades" and was undergoing a full internal refurbishment.

The university has released CGI images of what the facility will look like once completed, ahead of September's cohort of students.

The building will include a combination of teaching and recreational spaces, including more than 40 gaming-spec PCs, a professional-grade broadcast gallery and a live studio purpose-built for broadcasting and livestreaming.

Students will be given hands-on gaming experience and will be taught skills that include managing live-streamed events, live and online broadcasting experience, digital marketing skills and more, the university said.

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