Tencent Games, British Esports and Ukie release UK esports education research

Game developer Tencent Games, national esports body British Esports and non-profit gaming industry trade body Ukie have released new research on esports education within the UK.

The report reveals that 22% of Gen Z students surveyed are interested in pursuing a career within the esports industry.

The research was conducted by Censuswide and commissioned by Tencent Games in collaboration with British Esports and Ukie. The study highlights that three-quarters of Gen Z students are in favour of educational establishments integrating esports into their curriculum. Next year, 28 establishments will offer 39 courses focusing on esports and its industry.

After conducting research involving 2,000 Gen Z (aged 16-27) individuals who are interested in the creative and entertainment industry, 58% believe a career in esports is more accessible than traditional areas of work such as law and engineering. Despite this, geographic location plays a part in changing perceptions. 64% of London students see esports as an attainable career compared to 46% in the East Midlands.

Alongside an increase in accessibility to educational courses, the research calls for a need to build sustainability within the UK esports industry. The report in particular focuses on ‘fostering collaborations’ between game publishers, government institutions and educational institutions to expand career opportunities within esports.

Tom Dore, Vice President of British Esports, spoke on the report: “Esports curricula in Secondary, Further and Higher Education, such as the Pearson Level 2 & Level 3 BTECs in Esports, are equipping young people with the skills needed for careers in esports, gaming and the wider digital, creative and STEM sectors.

“We recently partnered with Tencent Games for a first-of-its-kind mobile esports tournament for Further Education colleges. Initiatives like these demonstrate the powerful impact of public-private collaboration. The UK needs more of these partnerships to fully unlock the potential of esports.”

Tencent Games, British Esports and Ukie aren’t the only stakeholders conducting research into the UK’s esports industry. In November 2024, techUK published a report sharing insights on trends expected to shape the future of the industry in the coming years.