Manchester University is partnering with a global esports organization to offer a study-abroad program in Seoul, South Korea, a mecca of the gaming industry.
The university said the three-week program in cooperation with California-based Gen.G will offer professional mentorship, networking, and lecture opportunities while immersing students in Korean culture and its history in esports.
“We are incredibly excited to partner with such an amazing esports organization like Gen.G to provide our students here at Manchester with an amazing opportunity to travel to Seoul and learn the esports industry from the best in the business,” Garrett Schieferstein, director of esports at Manchester, said in a news release. “This travel abroad experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more about esports on a global scale and experience South Korean esports/culture.”
Gen.G, which has additional offices in Seoul and Shanghai, owns and operates teams in various gaming competitions. Formed in 2017, it now fields nine top-level esports teams across titles such as League of Legends, Valorant and Overwatch, according to its website.
The organization also offers professional game training and esports educational initiatives, such as its Gen.G Practicum Abroad program, in which Manchester University now participates.
“This is our most ambitious program since the launch of our Gen.G Practicum Abroad program, bringing together some of the best universities in the country to expand their educational programs on campus,” Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur said. “The students will be fully immersed in Korea with hands-on experiences to give them a 360-degree view of the esports industry.”
Manchester University in 2022 launched an esports management minor through its Arthur L. Gilbert College of Business and competes in the National Association of Collegiate Esports. The Spartans are eight-time Great Lakes Esports Conference champions, the university notes on its website.