Esports Helps Georgia Students Level Up for Jobs of the Future: Video

Contributing more than $750 million annually to the state’s economy, esports is big business in Georgia. Thanks to strong partnerships and support at the state and local levels, Georgia’s esports industry has grown exponentially over the past year. Some of the biggest beneficiaries of this growth are Georgia students.

With partners, the Georgia Department of Economic Development launched a video to highlight the game-changing effect esports is having on education in Georgia, preparing a new generation of students for jobs of the future.

Advancing STEAM
While some students may naturally gravitate toward classroom education, esports is an exhilarating way to get other young learners who may not otherwise get excited about science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics plugged in.

Computer science education in the state begins at elementary school, and by middle school, students are introduced to different career paths they can take by continuing to pursue those studies. This includes the exciting world of gaming and software development. For instance, district school students of Forsyth County also have the opportunity to take an esports class through the Forsyth Virtual Academy.

In addition, esports is engaging more students in extracurricular activities. Recognized by the State of Georgia as an official varsity activity, K-12 and higher education institutions offer students the opportunity to compete on afterschool esports teams.

Real World Implications
In a blog shared last year, the state highlighted a study completed by the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) that demonstrated esports’ dominance in Georgia. The report included insights from industry players and cited that esports continues to grow in Georgia as a result of the actions the state has taken to embrace the industry.

This has big implications for Georgia’s technical college and university students interested in careers in the game development, tech, and entertainment industries. Not only are those jobs right here in the state, but students enrolled in Georgia colleges and universities are put at a career advantage thanks to strong public-private partnerships.

For example, leaders with TurnerSpots, Hi-Rez Studios, Skillshot Media, and Blue Mammoth Games – all of whom are featured in the newly launched video – work directly with Georgia’s technical colleges and university systems on innovative internships, classes, and opportunities meant specifically to help students break into the digital gaming field.

For more information about Georgia’s growing esports ecosystem in Georgia, please visit georgia.org/esports or contact Digital Entertainment & Emerging Media Project Manager Asante Bradford at 404-962-4056.