Local esports body Esports Wales has launched a new esports qualification in collaboration with educational qualification provider Agored Cymru.
The Agored Cymru Award in Esports Leadership course is available for school, college, and university students to study.
The Level 3 qualification launched on November 1st, 2024 and is available to students aged 16 and over. According to a release, the 60-hour course aims to “provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to organise esports sessions.”
The course also covers details about the wider esports ecosystem, its key stakeholders, as well as regulations and ethical practices within the tournament organisation space.
To mark the launch of the course, Esports Wales attended the Welsh Senedd (Welsh Parliament) to showcase the project to government officials. Alongside sharing insight on the Esports Leaders Award course, the body provided details on how it plans on elevating esports across the country.
In 2024, Esports Wales has continued to grow its presence across Wales. In March 2024, it partnered with computer and hardware brand Acer to obtain a range of laptops students can use in its workshops. In January, the body secured funding from Media Cymru’s Development Fund for its project entitled ‘Esports Wales: A New Game Plan for Wales’.
Wales isn’t the only esports body to launch in the UK in 2024. In October, esports lecturer Mark McCready and Dale Murray of the Scottish Esports Network launched Scottish Esports to become the country’s national esports body.
John Jackson, CEO of Esports Wales, spoke on the news: “The hope for the course is that we create an industry standard within Wales. The course can help with CPD, tournaments, and events.
“This course will lead to new courses for coaches, tournament admins, and more. It’s just the start, but this course helps to create a more sustainable ecosystem for esports within Wales.”
