Esports, education come together in 1st Estudyante Esports SummEEt

MANILA, Philippines – “Esports and Education are one.” 

This is the message that Dark League Studios hopes to convey to students and teachers alike in the maiden Estudyante Esports SummEEt held last March 2 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The summit is one of the initiatives under Dark league Studios' Estudyante Esports Program, which hopes to bring esports to the academe to create a sustainable future for both the industry and the next generation of gamers who wish to pursue a career in the industry.

"Through Estudyante Esports, we are inviting everyone to embrace the future and support the passion of the younger generation in esports. We have to understand that everywhere you go, people play games. The simple act of playing a game can actually be your career one day. Estudyante Esports is about creating sustainability and to protect the future of students. The program is about showing where we are in esports and how it can be a career for students," said Dark League Studios chief executive officer, AC Valdenor.

Besides the summit, which will be held twice a year, the Estudyante Esports Program will also conduct school caravans with esports exhibits with brands and game publishers, game demos and esports seminars for the industry's different career paths. 

The program also hopes to develop with certificate courses or electives revolving around the esports industry, with a certificate course on esports and digital gaming fundamentals already being developed in the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde already in the works. 

Lastly, the Estudyante Esports Program will also include Smart Communications' University Clash, a multi-title esports tournament for partner schools and student organizations.

"The interest in esports is not just a fad but will continue to grow hence schools need to consider how they can help the passion of students towards this discipline. Estudyante Esports is about merging esports as a hobby and as a competition, with academic initiatives," said Estudyante Esports Program director, Deng Kibanoff.

The summit over the weekend was attended by a total of 2000 students and 200 school representatives, among them 25 faculty members and deans.