University of Suffolk bets on booming esports industry with £1.65m facility

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.