According to the latest survey commissioned by Tencent, the British Esports Federation and Ukie, the British entertainment and leisure software publisher organization, 75% of British students advocate the inclusion of esports in school curricula, and 64% of them are already engaged in esports-related academic activities.
The survey, conducted by Censuswide, surveyed 2,000 respondents aged 16 to 27 who were interested in the creative and entertainment industries.
Of those surveyed, 40% are considering a degree/career in a video game-related field, and 58% believe esports is an easier career to pursue than fields such as law and engineering.
Although there are 16 higher-level trading institutions in the UK offering esports-related degree courses, 36% of respondents still believe that there are financial barriers to further study, and 33% said that their career path is unclear.
Tom Dore, vice president of the British Esports Federation, said: “Esports courses in secondary, further and higher education are providing young people with the skills they need for careers in esports, gaming and the wider digital, creative and STEM fields.”
“However, support and recognition from video game publishers and industry stakeholders is critical to driving sustainable growth, grassroots development and clear career paths within the esports ecosystem.”
Nick Poole, CEO of Ukie, also emphasized the impact of esports on the development of the economy and creative industries, and said that the UK has a unique position in the development of the esports field: "(The UK) has a good record of hosting large-scale global events and is also home to the largest community of student esports players in Europe. To build on this momentum, we must continue to invest in education, infrastructure and cross-industry collaboration."