The British Esports Association has partnered with Pearson to launch a brand new international level 3 qualification and resources in esports.
This qualification is the first of its kind and a major step forward in supporting the creation of long-term careers in the growing global esports industry. And now institutions around the world can offer these new qualifications to overseas learners from September 2020.
The qualification consists of 22 units, including Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Analysis, Events Management, Live-streamed Broadcasting, Video Production, Shoutcasting, Coaching, Health and Wellbeing, the Law and Legislation, Computer Networking and more. The qualifications will enable some learners to enter careers in the esports industry, upskill their careers or progress to further and higher education.
The qualification is available in 5 sizes: Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma, Extended Diploma. These sizes are designed to work with other curriculum so that learners can take a smaller esports qualification alongside vocational subjects in business, or creative media, or alongside an academic curriculum.
The units are designed to provide deep insight into esports and will enable learners to develop a wide range of transferable skills and knowledge that can be applied to other careers and sectors including digital and STEAM-based careers. This is especially valuable to learners in a changing world where job roles are likely to continually change, and the emphasis is increasingly on flexibility, adaptability and transferable skills.
To ensure that the content meets industry needs and provides high-quality preparation for progression, the partners engaged experts within esports, educators and employers including the University of Chichester, Sheridans and the North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF).
British Esports Association board members including Mark “Garvey” Candella, Director of Education and Student Programmes at Twitch and Craig “Wizzo” Fletcher, founder of Multiplay/Insomnia, supported the work of the partners, reviewing content as it developed.
The esports industry is projected to generate revenues of $1.1 billion in 2020, a year-on-year growth of 16%, with the total esports audience set to rise 11.7% to 495 million individuals, according to Newzoo.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Vaizey of Didcot, British Esports Association Vice Chairman, commented: “It’s been encouraging to receive such a high level of interest for the esports BTEC in the UK, and following this demand, we’re now looking forward to making this course available around the world and helping young people to either pursue a career in esports, or gain valuable transferable skills they can put to use elsewhere.”
Cindy Rampersaud, Senior Vice President BTEC and Apprenticeships at Pearson, commented: “The world of esports offers huge employment potential, both in the UK and across the world, and the new BTEC International Level 3 qualification in esports will give learners the knowledge and skills they need to build a career in this exciting sector. We have worked closely with industry experts to create a career-focused set of qualifications that will support the rapid growth of the esports sector and offer learners a pathway into working in esports and related industries.”
Tom Dore, Head of Education at the British Esports Association, added: “We’re very excited to be bringing our esports BTEC qualifications to countries around the world and giving students and teachers access to a fantastic, growing industry that is esports.”
Paul J. Foster, Chief Operating Officer at the Global Esports Federation (GEF), said: “Education in esports is essential for our growing community to succeed. The British Esports Association has shown great leadership in paving the way for many others around the world, particularly in delivering quality courses together with their partner Pearson. The future for esports will continue to be bright and so it is perfect timing for this new international esports course to be launched.”
To find out more about BTEC International Level 3 qualifications in sport and to download the course specification, please visit: btec-intl.pearson.com/Level3-esports
Notes:
- The BTEC International Level 3 consist of 5 sizes: Certificate, Subsidiary Diploma, Foundation Diploma, Diploma, Extended Diploma.
- These qualifications are the equivalent of 0.5 International A Level, one International A Level, 1.5 International A Levels, 2 International A Levels or 3 International A Levels respectively.