The rise of Esports has taken education systems around the world by storm in recent years, with this industry worth an estimated U.S.$1.38bn as of 2022. By next year, the global Esports market is expected to be valued as much as U.S.$1.87bn.
Recognising this, traditional sporting clubs have been investing into the Esports market, which now includes major league soccer, NFL and the Australian Football League.
Australia’s universities are also seizing on this growth by offering courses for gamers to move from amateurs to professional players and creating industry opportunities for students who are interested in a career in this increasingly popular competition.
At St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, staff been pioneering the adoption of Esports in girls’ education for several years, recognising it as an official sport among its traditional sports portfolio.
Partnering with communications technology company Yabbr, they aim to grow Esports as an extracurricular activity, boosting the Girls in Gaming initiative and providing students with access to mentors and opportunities to develop their skills for a future pathway in the technology industry.
On June 1 this year, more than 100 female students from across Brisbane competed in a new all-girl Esports tournament at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School – the first of its kind for Queensland schools.
Kerry Daud, St Margaret’s Head of Faculty – eLearning, Research, Technology and Design, and tournament founder, says women and girls often face obstacles and barriers in the world of Esports that can hinder them from pursuing the sport and future career pathways in the technology industry.
“Research indicates around 89% of female internet users aged between 16 and 24 play online games, yet only 5% of gamers in organised Esports are female,” Daud said.
“This data suggests that while there is a growing presence of female gamers and competitors, the Esports arena is still largely male-dominated. The Girls in Gaming tournament was a celebration of the vibrant girls in gaming community and offered girls the chance to demonstrate their gaming skills and compete in a safe, inclusive, supportive, and supervised space.”
Daud said Esports are much more than just a platform for female-friendly competition and gaming.
“The skills developed through Esports are the skills required for the future of work,” she said. “We’re preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s technology.”
Several Queensland schools participated in the tournament, including St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Brisbane State High School, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar, Moreton Bay College, St John’s Anglican College, and St Margaret’s.
The tournament winners were:
- Minecraft Capture the Flag: Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School
- Valorant: Brisbane State High School
- League of Legends: St Margaret’s