Can Introducing Esports In Education Catalyse Career Opportunities In India? Let’s Find Out

India's esports industry has the potential of generating thousands of jobs and it is glaringly skill-deficit.

Esports is a cross-connection to many high-growth sectors such as entertainment, advertising, and technology.

Source : Alena Darmel/Pexels

By Ashish Srivastava

Back in the time, if a youngster had stated that he wanted to join the gaming world, his parents would surely have given him a strong lecture. It's amazing how much time has changed in just the last five years as India has emerged as a global leader in the mobile gaming market. Competitive gaming has grown into a multi-billion-dollar ecosystem globally, with professional players event organisers, broadcasters and tech specialists creating vibrant career opportunities. 

Esports has entered professional, collegiate, and K–12 sectors and provides an extensive range of cognitive, behavioural, and social benefits, such as improving self-esteem, concentration, interest, and academic performance. It is usually stated that India alone has more than 600 million citizens under the age of 35 which makes up 45 per cent of its total population (Worldometers, 2024). The young people of the country are technologically savvy. According to the Internet and Mobile Association of India in 2023, smartphone usage was reported to be 75 per cent in India. 

However, it has been some time since Japan has just opened its first esports high school. On the other hand, education publisher Pearson has collaborated with the British Esports Federation to introduce the world's first qualification in esports.

Such an endeavour is applaudable, but when will something like this happen in India? The way to becoming a professional in esports remains uncertain and unstructured. Traditional sports such as cricket, hockey, and athletics have established channels for identifying talent and developing it. The government supports athletes in terms of educational reservations, national recognition of their achievements, and so on. 

Esports, on the other hand, has little or no institutional support. Even though tournaments and gaming leagues are growing, they still tend to be disorganised and great players cannot even get recognised. The absence of systems at local, state, and national levels also impedes the gamers' abilities to get more exposure and create a long-term career for themselves. Adding esports to the education system would change this dynamic, opening up a world of possibilities for young gamers and contributing to the nation's economy in unprecedented ways.

Education As An Entrance To Employment

India's esports industry has the potential of generating thousands of jobs and it is glaringly skill-deficit. Unlike other sectors of the economy where formal education matches job roles, esports performs in a relatively informal field. Bringing esports education to students will help bridge this gap as they will be more prepared for a broad variety of roles that extend far beyond gameplay.

Here is how higher learning institutions can play their part:

• Curriculum Development: Schools and colleges could offer courses on game design, coding, analytics, event management, and content creation.
• Skill-Building Programs: Students could learn about live streaming, digital marketing, and audience engagement — skills that are valuable across industries.
• Entrepreneurship Training: Aspiring professionals could be trained to set up their own gaming studios, production houses, or esports teams.

Why's Now The Time For Esports In Education

India stands at a crossroads. The country boasts a young population with excellent education in digital technologies and one of the world's fastest-growing online gaming markets, making it an excellent time to standardise esports education. Other countries, like South Korea, have shown in the past how institutional support can help to raise esports to national phenomena, providing employment and furthering technological development.

For India, it goes way beyond the gaming industry. Esports is a cross-connection to many high-growth sectors such as entertainment, advertising, and technology. Talent development in esports will further help India enhance its presence in these industries and create innovation across many domains.

Shaping Mindsets Beyond The Game

The prevalent societal perception is a considerable barrier in front of esports in India. Most people still view games as a distraction or a waste of time. This attitude discourages passionate players from pursuing their dreams and prevents parents and teachers from encouraging such interest.

The education sector focusing on esports has the potential to significantly alter existing perceptions. Educational institutions can illustrate its significance as a skill-oriented field by integrating gaming into the formal academic framework. Incorporating narratives of successful professional gamers and the worldwide prominence of esports into educational programs could underscore its feasibility as a career option.

Skills That Are Needed Today

Esports has the perfect blend of entertainment and skill-building. Critical thinking, teamwork, and adaptability are precise skills that are needed in today's workforce. Educators can leverage these aspects to establish esports as a modern means of personal and professional development.

Including esports in education can change the approach toward skill development and employment generation in India. This can help many young gamers transform their passion into a profession and join a budding industry with high potential. India can structure a similar progression to the rest of the sports by including esports in education. High school students can represent their schools at the tournaments, earn scholarships, and eventually compete nationally or internationally. Such a framework would validate esports as a serious pursuit and get many young talents to take it seriously.

(The author is the Co-Founder and COO of Glazer Games )

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