How higher education esports programs can help technology companies address talent issues

Colleges and universities struggle with how to differentiate themselves in a competitive market so they can better recruit and retain students. Software and technology (S&T) companies – like companies in many other industries – are struggling to find and retain the right talent. These two sectors may find a solution to their problems in the common ground of esports.

Esports – competitive video gaming – is on track to surpass $1.5 billion in revenue by 2023, with year-over year growth of 15.7%. More than 175 colleges and universities have started an officially recognized varsity esports program, according to the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE). As part of their recruitment efforts, institutions are looking to capitalize on the continuing popularity of gaming in students from kindergarten through high school. They are discovering that students enjoy not only the competitive aspect of esports, but also the community of gamers and supporters they are finding on campus.

Scott Huston, chief information officer at Stockton University in Absecon, New Jersey, noted that one of the most important parts of putting together an esports program is the initial budget. He said the institution should budget in a way that funds a healthy balance between the technology that supports the games and the community that supports the players and the school.

He added that Stockton’s esports program is drawing students from many academic specialties – computer science, history, chemistry, education and English, to name a few. He also noted that the skills students learn being involved in esports are easily transferable to the workforce. “Teamwork and communication, but also dealing with high stress and working through that,” Huston said.

Institutions are adding or expanding an esports program as a retention and recruitment strategy for existing students. There's tremendous interest in esports and the earning power of new media stars like Ninja, a Twitch streamer, YouTuber and professional gamer.

S&T companies can benefit from the increasing popularity of esports by sponsoring college esports programs (which expands name recognition and use of company products) and nurturing the next generation of employees (which will help fill their ongoing talent needs).