Why it matters: The £1.65 million renovation of a vacant Long Street building demonstrates a significant commitment to the growing esports industry, preparing students with industry-standard facilities ahead of the new BA (Hons) Esports course launching this September.
The details: The state-of-the-art facility will feature:
More than 40 gaming-spec PCs
A professional-grade broadcast gallery
A purpose-built live studio for broadcasting and livestreaming
Combined teaching and recreational spaces
What they're saying: "We've already had lots of interest in our brand new Esports course launching this September, and the £1.65 million facility will be a real draw for students to join our programme," said Charlie Smith, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Esports.
Beyond gaming: The new course aims to equip students with broader business and technical skills, including:
Managing live-streamed events
Live and online broadcasting experience
Digital marketing skills
Creative digital media attributes
Leadership and team dynamic capabilities
"These skills are really important for thriving in such a fast-paced and evolving industry, and by equipping our students with as broad a range of strengths as possible, our course will give students the best experience possible of thriving in the industry," Smith added.
Coming soon: Work on the facility is being carried out by Concertus and is scheduled for completion in September, coinciding with the arrival of the first cohort of students.
The bigger picture: Students will have opportunities to:
Compete in national and global tournaments
Participate in online showpiece matches and charity events
Manage their own esports team, which will be unveiled later this year
The bottom line: As the esports industry continues to grow globally, the University of Suffolk is making a substantial investment to establish Ipswich as a training ground for future gaming professionals.
