Manchester CityÂ’s charity launches new esports programme
18 July 2024
Good times for the Manchester City fans who love esports as well! The year started off in great fashion, especially for the Fortnite fans among them, as Manchester City Esports clinched the Fortnite Championship Series 2024. And a few months later, perhaps an ever bigger surprise hit the esports news when Supercell, the developer behind Clash of Clans, introduced an exclusive Erling Haaland in-game skin for the popular Barbarian King character.
This time though, it’s not so much about Man City’s esports side or its superstar striker, but about “City in the Community”, the club’s charity arm. Together with Oldham College, they have launched a brand-new esports programme that is set to welcome its first students in September 2024 already.
Full 2-year programme
The new esports course will be taught at Oldham College as part of the institutes already existing esports programmes. The programme is officially called “Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport” and is aimed at students aged between 16 and 18 years old who are interested in the world of esports. Students can gain a Level 2 Certificate in Esports after one year and the full Level 3 Diploma in Esports if they complete the full two years of the new course.
As is becoming more and more usual for esports courses at colleges and other institutions, the City in the Community programme is focused on much more than purely participating in esports as a player. The goal of the course is also to provide students with a comprehensive education in relation to the industry as a whole, as well as technical training in esports. Like that, they are prepared for various careers within the world of esports in the UK and the rest of the world.
To give you an idea of what students can expect from the new programme at Oldham College, the announcement by City in the Community and the college also included a brief overview of what to expect. Besides training for and in esports games, teams and tournaments, there will also be a focus on streaming esports and the organisation of esports events. On top of that, the course will dedicate a considerable amount of its curriculum to the importance of health, fitness and wellbeing for esports players.
Academics combined with practice
To top it off, not all of the course’s sessions will be based at Oldham College. Some parts of the programme will also take place at Manchester City’s very own Etihad Campus, giving students a unique opportunity to experience one of the world football’s most advanced sports facilities for themselves.
“We are incredibly excited to launch this new esports partnership with Oldham College”, says Jonathan Pauley, City in the Community’s 11+ Education Manager, “The course represents a fantastic opportunity for students to gain valuable skills and knowledge that will set them up for success in their future careers. The esports initiative will also enhance students’ professional development and networking opportunities. They will be able to combine academic learning with practical experience, with an emphasis on teamwork, health, and well-being, whilst also encouraging innovation and creativity.”