Millions of people play video games every day – but what could be considered a useless hobby could even get you qualified, via a new Manchester City-backed BTEC course.
Teen gamers in Oldham will be able to chase this dream after a new programme was put in place by Manchester City’s charity City in the Community (CITC) and Oldham College.
Twenty-five students, aged between 16 and 18, have recently become the college’s first-ever cohort of esports students. They have embarked on a BTEC course that will show them what it takes to work in the world of professional, competitive video games, whether in commentating, live-streaming, production, or gaming itself.
The partnership between the two organisations will provide students with opportunities to rub shoulders with professional players and experience international gaming events.
But of all the potential subjects and areas to focus on, one important question is…
Why esports?
Esports, much like traditional sports, sees two teams go head-to-head in elite-level competition. But these matches take place in the virtual world, with professional players demonstrating their skill in the same video games that millions of casual fans enjoy when they get home from school or work.
Like any sport, these virtual competitions rely on fans. Esports attracts hundreds of millions of viewers from around the world, spanning across hundreds of different video games.
In May 2024, Manchester hosted a Rainbox Six Siege tournament where players competed for a $750,000 prize pool. The event saw thousands attend in-person, with over 5.1 million hours watched cumulatively among online viewers.
“It’s a multi-billion pound industry”, said John Pietrzak, Head of Sports, Academies and Public Services at the college.
But it’s the industry’s expected growth which makes it noteworthy.
The development of the esports industry could mean that young people may end up applying for jobs in a few years time that don’t even exist today. It’s this forward-looking approach which informed the decision to begin this programme.
Rachel James, Deputy Principal at Oldham College, said: “We really took our time in getting this programme up and running and really tried to invest in the best possible curriculum for our young people.
“We have the ambition that this will grow.”
The esports industry is also an area with certain skill gaps. As an emerging sector, there is not yet an established path for passionate gamers to become professionals.
Pietrzak said: “There is an elite profile but there’s not yet that pathway into that elite position like at a football academy.” This new course looks to change that.
The college expected that the course could lead to some anxiety among parents already concerned their teenagers were spending too long with a controller in their hands. However, students will learn all kinds of skills to prepare them for work.
Lisa Mckay, Head of Operations at CITC, explained: “People think of esports as just kids playing games all day – but there’s so much more to it than that.
“The jobs are so varied. There’s partnerships, there’s events, there’s gaming, there’s broadcasting. There’s so many different elements to esports that this programme will bring.”
The course’s day-to-day structure
Students will spend 10-12 hours each week in this vocational programme, while they also take on other courses at Oldham College. They will be required to pass certain qualifications in English and maths to be eligible for the course.
Lessons will be led by specialist tutors who have undergraduate and master’s degree qualifications in the esports field.
Every Wednesday, students will take part in ‘Student Champs’. This tournament will see students don their first-team uniforms and play or commentate under the banner of the ‘Manchester City Esports Academy’.
City in the Community will oversee this portion of the curriculum, managing the students’ development and the relevant administration, fixtures, results, and match reporting.
Furthermore, professionals from Manchester City’s own esports team will get involved. With experience in elite-level Fortnite and EA Sports FC (EAFC), these pros will be interacting with students and sharing their wisdom, at least once per half term.
“This provides role models within their curriculum and their education,” said Mckay.
A career starts in Korea
One of the highlights of this new course will be a two-week work placement where students travel to South Korea to support a professional esports tournament.
Jointly organised by Oldham College, CITC, and the British Esports Federation, this trip will see students take on work experience with world-renowned esports organisation Gen.G. This Korean club has professional teams in League of Legends, Valorant, NBA 2K, EAFC, and more.
Staff from Manchester City esports are already in the country studying its esports academy system, looking to bring valuable insights back to the UK for our own youth development.
South Korea is an ideal environment for students to learn from, Pietrzak highlights, as gaming is so well integrated into everyday life. He said: “Esports is played in a cafe while you’re having a coffee.”
Looking ahead
Oldham College wants to see students find valuable opportunities after completing the course, which could mean further education, apprenticeships, or employment.
The college’s leadership team is already thinking about how to manage a larger cohort of esports students next year.
In an upcoming recruitment drive, the college will be sending its new esports van to the family stand at Manchester City’s home fixtures. This will give matchgoers the chance to experience playing on a professional gaming rig and capture the imagination of young gamers.
CITC hasn’t got any concrete plans to expand its support for esports education just yet, instead focusing on getting this first step right, according to Mckay. But there could be an opportunity to support other colleges with esports programmes.
“In two years’ time, we might be sat here with the next pro esport gamer from Oldham College,” she said. “You never know.”
Images courtesy of Oldham College and City in the Community
