IN response to growing demand for skills in Esports - short for Electronic Sports - new specialist qualifications have been launched at Bradford College.
Esports is the rapidly growing multi-billion-pound global industry of competitive video gaming.
After a £70,000 investment in new facilities, the College is now enrolling students for BTEC Level 2 & 3 qualifications in Esports. Courses give students transferable skills across different areas of Esports, such as sport, marketing, enterprise, IT, and the creative industries.
Taught at the David Hockney Building, the Esports programmes will use brand-new facilities which include hi-spec gaming PCs, specialist chairs, screens and speakers, housed on a new gaming arena facility in the heart of the College’s Digital Academy.
Designed to meet the needs of the gaming and computing industry, and using feedback from technology partners, the courses include a range of work experience opportunities.
Sarah Towan, Director of Student Recruitment & External Relations at Bradford College, said: “The wide range of skills gained on these courses can be applied to lots of jobs and sectors, including digital and STEM-based careers. This is especially valuable given roles in the industry are likely to continually change and evolve as technology advances. So, the emphasis with these programmes is delivering flexibility, adaptability, and transferable skills for now and the future.”
Students on the one-year Esports BTEC Level 2 Certificate learn through technical and practical workshops while gaining communication, numeracy, and literacy skills. Core units cover Esports games and tournaments, commercial and not-for-profit Esports organisations, streaming, and planning an Esports event.
They can then progress to the two-year BTEC Level 3 qualification (equivalent to A Levels), which covers fundamental Esports skills, strategies and analysis, entrepreneurship, wellbeing and fitness for players, events Shoutcasting, and video production. Regular live broadcasts and Esports tournaments also form part of the training.
On successful completion of the courses, students can progress to higher-level study, apprenticeships, or employment in the computing and games industry.
Find out more at www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/courses/esports and enrol now for a September start.
AN information day for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism will be held at Bradford College on Friday September 16, 9.30am-12.30pm. The event will showcase DFN Project SEARCH - a transition-to-work programme for 18-25-year-olds with a current Education and Health Care Plan.
The College works with Project SEARCH, Bradford Royal Infirmary and Bradford District Care Trust to give year-long work experience opportunities across sectors from catering to library services, providing transferable skills to help progression to full-time work. Former intern Mason said: “Everybody really helped me, I really liked it here. In July I had an interview and got a job at Next.” Over 60per cent of participants on Project SEARCH have progressed to employment since 2010. To book a place at the event, email c.holden@bradfordcollege.ac.uk or call (01274) 088357.
DEGREES and higher-level study will be the theme of a bespoke open evening coming soon at Bradford College.
Students interested in exploring higher professional and technical qualifications at degree-level are invited to Bradford College’s Great Horton Road site for the event on Thursday, October 13 from 5pm-7pm.
The event is aimed at students looking to enter full-time Higher Education or postgraduate study in 2022 or 2023 or to study a part-time Higher Education course.
Programmes include HNCs, HNDs, Foundation Degrees, Honours Degrees and postgraduate studies such as Masters Degrees and PGCEs.
Results of the recent 2022 annual National Student Survey (NSS) showed greater satisfaction for higher education learners at Bradford College than at all public universities in Yorkshire.
* Visit www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/higher-education for more information about the degree courses on offer, or pop along to the event to chat with staff.
CATERING and Hospitality students received a special visit from local industry partner the Great Victoria Hotel as part of their induction week at Bradford College.
Daniel Kirkham, General Manager of the hotel, delivered a talk in The Grove training restaurant at the College’s David Hockney building. Students learned about working in a bustling hotel environment and work experience opportunities available to them. Over the festive period, the hotel plans to take on around 30 new members of staff to cover one of its busiest periods. Students were offered the opportunity to gain work placements as part of this staffing increase.
Andy Bray, Level 3 Professional Cookery Programme Leader at Bradford College, also expressed how working part-time in the College’s restaurant and café bar is a great way to gain in-demand skills needed by the catering and hospitality industry.
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