Esports is lighting up new opportunities for students
At Coleg Ceredigion, a new kind of competition is bringing students together in a growing industry with opportunities for careers in game development and streaming and event management.
Esports, or gaming, is a very popular extra-curricular activity for students, who have their own college team and regularly compete and enjoy getting together, competing in a number of different leagues.
From the thrill of Rocket League, the strategic battles of Valorant, or the fast-paced action of Apex Legends, gaming is more than entertainment, it’s a way for students to connect.
For students like Corey Mckenzie Balmont, who is studying carpentry, gaming is a passion. “I feel very strongly about gaming,” he says, highlighting how esports provides opportunities to communicate and meet new people.
Finley Hayward, another member of the college’s Rocket League team, shares a similar view. “The biggest benefit is the wide range of people you get to meet while competing in games you enjoy,” he says. “I’m learning skills such as teamwork and communicating under pressure.”
This year, the college team has competed in Valorant, Rocket League, Apex Legends and PUBG and in the spring, they will be competing in the British Esports Open Student Championships in Rocket League and Valorant.
The college Rocket League team finished fifth in their league during the Winter Open Student Championships. They also made it through the group stages of the Apex Legends, qualified for the finals and will be competing again this year.
The PUBG tournament took place for the first time this year with students only allowed to compete on their mobile phones which they enjoyed and will be continuing their participation.
Joining the Esports team is encouraged not just within computing courses but across the whole college
Aled Richards, lecturer in information technology, leads the esports initiative at Coleg Ceredigion. “The reason I have chosen to get involved with esports is that it gives our students extra-curricular opportunities in a growing area which the majority of students enjoy,” he said. “Esports allows students to develop their team skills, critical thinking and time management. It allows them to connect with peers who share similar interests and they can interact with players from other colleges and regions of the UK.”
At Coleg Ceredigion, all PCs and accessories for esports at Aberystwyth campus are industry standard Alienware gaming.
Lecturer Aled Richards added: “Playing esports improves students’ mental resilience and allows them to manage pressure in competitive environments, enhancing their abilities to stay focused and composed.
“There are many educational and career opportunities available and accessibility of the sport is a major positive as students of all abilities are able to get involved regardless of physical and mental health conditions.
“Esports gives students a chance to have fun and compete in competitive gaming together as a team and it gives them the chance to make new friends, develop their skills and compete in national tournaments against colleges from across the UK as a sport that anyone can play and enjoy.
Student Megan Mai Jones, who competed in the Valorant British Esports Open Student Championships, said: “I like meeting people who play games that I like and you get to socialise whilst doing something you enjoy.”
